THE  STORY 
OF  OPAL 


THE  JOURNAL  OF  AN 

UNDERSTANDING 

HEART 


f    [ 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


The  Story  of  Opal 

The  Journal  of 
An  Understanding  Heart 


Photograph  by  Bachrach 

OPAL    WHITELEY    RECONSTRUCTING    HER    DIARY 


The  Story  of  Opal 

The  Journal  of 
An  Understanding  Heart 


Opal  Whiteley 


With  Illustrations 


The  Atlantic  Monthly  Press 
Boston 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  'OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


COPYRIGHT,  1920,  BY  THE  ATLANTIC  MONTHLY  COMPANY 

COPYRIGHT,  1920,  BY  THE  ATLANTIC  MONTHLY  PRESS 

All  rights  reserved 


PREFACE 


FOR  those  whom  Nature  loves,  the  Story  of  Opal  is  an  open 
book.  They  need  no  introduction  to  the  journal  of  this  Under 
standing  Heart.  But  the  world,  which  veils  the  spirit  and 
callouses  the  instincts,  makes  curiosity  for  most  people  the 
criterion  of  interest.  They  demand  facts  and  backgrounds, 
theories  and  explanations,  and  for  them  it  seems  worth  while 
to  set  forth  something  of  the  child's  story  undisclosed  by  the 
diary,  and  to  attempt  to  weave  together  some  impressions  of 
the  author. 

Last  September,  late  one  afternoon,  Opal  Whiteley  came 
into  the  Atlantic's  office,  with  a  book  which  she  had  had 
printed  in  Los  Angeles.  It  was  not  a  promising  errand,  though 
it  had  brought  her  all  the  way  from  the  Western  coast,  hoping 
to  have  published  in  regular  fashion  this  volume,  half  fact, 
half  fancy,  of  The  Fairyland  Around  Us,  the  fairyland  of 
beasts  and  blossoms,  butterflies  and  birds.  The  book  was 
quaintly  embellished  with  colored  pictures,  pasted  in  by  hand, 
and  bore  a  hundred  marks  of  special  loving  care.  Yet  about 
it  there  seemed  little  at  first  sight  to  tempt  a  publisher.  In 
deed,  she  had  offered  her  wares  in  vain  to  more  than  one  pub 
lishing  house;  and  as  her  dollars  were  growing  very  few,  the 
disappointment  was  severe.  But  about  Opal  Whiteley  her 
self  there  was  something  to  attract  the  attention  even  of  a 
man  of  business  —  something  very  young  and  eager  and  flut 
tering,  like  a  bird  in  a  thicket. 

The  talk  went  as  follows :  — 

"  I  am  afraid  we  can't  do  anything  with  the  book.  But  you 
must  have  had  an  interesting  life.  You  have  lived  much  in 
the  woods  ? " 


vi  PREFACE 

"Yes,  in  lots  of  lumber-camps." 

"How  many?" 

"Nineteen.  At  least,  we  moved  nineteen  times." 

It  was  hard  not  to  be  interested  now.  One  close  question 
followed  another  regarding  the  surroundings  of  her  girlhood. 
The  answers  were  so  detailed,  so  sharply  remembered,  that 
the  next  question  was  natural. 

"  If  you  remember  like  that,  you  must  have  kept  a  diary." 

Her  eyes  opened  wide.  "Yes,  always.  I  do  still." 

"Then  it  is  not  the  book  I  want,  but  the  diary." 

She  caught  her  breath.  "It's  destroyed.  It's  all  torn  up." 
Tears  were  in  her  eyes. 

"You  loved  it?" 

"Yes;  I  told  it  everything." 

"Then  you  kept  the  pieces." 

The  guess  was  easy  (what  child  whose  doll  is  rent  asunder 
throws  away  the  sawdust?),  but  she  looked  amazed. 

"Yes,  I  have  kept  everything.  The  pieces  are  all  stored  in 
Los  Angeles." 

We  telegraphed  for  them,  and  they  came,  hundreds,  thou 
sands,  one  might  almost  say  millions  of  them.  Some  few  were 
large  as  a  half-sheet  of  notepaper;  more,  scarce  big  enough 
to  hold  a  letter  of  the  alphabet.  The  paper  was  of  all  shades, 
sorts,  and  sizes:  butchers'  bags  pressed  and  sliced  in  two, 
wrapping-paper,  the  backs  of  envelopes  —  anything  and 
everything  that  could  hold  writing.  The  early  years  of  the 
diary  are  printed  in  letters  so  close  that,  when  the  sheets  are 
fitted,  not  another  letter  can  be  squeezed  in.  In  later  passages 
the  characters  are  written  with  childish  clumsiness,  and  later 
still  one  sees  the  gradually  forming  adult  hand. 

The  labor  of  piecing  the  diary  together  may  fairly  be 
described  as  enormous.  For  nine  months  almost  continuously 
the  diarist  has  labored,  piecing  it  together  sheet  by  sheet, 
each  page  a  kind  of  picture-puzzle,  lettered,  for  frugality  (the 
store  was  precious),  on  both  sides  of  the  paper. 


PREFACE  vii 

The  entire  diary,  of  which  this  volume  covers  but  the  two 
opening  years,  must  comprise  a  total  of  a  quarter  of  a  million 
words.  Upwards  of  seventy  thousand  —  all  that  is  contained 
in  this  volume  —  can  be  ascribed  with  more  than  reasonable 
defmiteness  to  the  end  of  Opal's  sixth  and  to  her  seventh  year. 
During  all  these  months  Opal  Whiteley  has  been  a  frequent 
visitor  in  the  Atlantic's  office.  With  friendliness  came  confi 
dence,  and  little  by  little,  very  gradually,  an  incident  here, 
another  there,  her  story  came  to  be  told.  She  was  at  first 
eager  only  for  the  future  and  for  the  opportunity  to  write 
and  teach  children  of  the  world  which  she  loved  best.  But  as 
the  thread  of  the  diary  was  unraveled,  she  felt  a  growing  in 
terest  in  what  her  past  had  been,  and  in  what  lay  behind  her 
earliest  recollections  and  the  opening  chapters  of  her  printed 
record. 

Her  methods  were  nothing  if  not  methodical.  First,  the 
framework  of  a  sheet  would  be  fitted  and  the  outer  edges 
squared.  Here  the  adornment  of  borders  in  childish  patterns, 
and  the  fortunate  fact  that  the  writer  had  employed  a  variety 
of  colored  crayons,  using  each  color  until  it  was  exhausted, 
lent  an  unhoped-for  aid.  Then,  odd  sheets  were  fitted  together; 
later,  fragments  of  episodes.  Whenever  one  was  completed,  it 
was  typed  by  an  assistant  on  a  card,  and  in  this  way  there 
came  into  being  a  card-system  that  would  do  credit  to  a  scien 
tific  museum  of  modest  proportions.  Finally  the  cards  were 
filed  in  sequence,  the  manuscript  then  typed  off  and  printed 
just  as  at  first  written,  with  no  change  whatever  other  than 
omissions,  the  adoption  of  reasonable  rules  of  capitalization 
(the  manuscript  for  many  years  has  nothing  but  capitals), 
and  the  addition  of  punctuation,  of  which  the  manuscript  is 
entirely  innocent.  The  spelling  —  with  the  exception  of  oc 
casional  characteristic  examples  of  the  diarist's  individual 
style — has,  in  the  reader's  interest,  been  widely  amended. 


viii  PREFACE 

II 

Opal  Whiteley  —  so  her  story  runs  —  was  born  about 
twenty-two  years  ago  —  where,  we  have  no  knowledge.  Of 
her  parents,  whom  she  lost  before  her  fifth  year,  she  is  sure  of 
nothing  except  that  they  loved  her,  and  that  she  loved  them 
with  a  tenacity  of  affection  as  strong  now  as  at  the  time  of 
parting.  To  recall  what  manner  of  people  they  were,  no 
physical  proof  remains  except,  perhaps,  two  precious  little 
copybooks,  which  held  their  photographs  and  wherein  her 
mother  and  father  had  set  down  things  which  they  wished 
their  little  daughter  to  learn,  both  of  the  world  about  her  and 
of  that  older  world  of  legend  and  history,  with  which  the 
diarist  shows  such  capricious  and  entertaining  familiarity. 
These  books,  for  reasons  beyond  her  knowledge,  were  taken 
away  from  Opal  when  she  was  about  twelve  years  of  age,  and 
have  never  been  returned,  although  there  is  ground  for  be 
lieving  that  they  are  still  in  existence. 

Other  curious  clues  to  the  identity  of  her  father  and  mother 
come  from  the  child's  frequent  use  of  French  expressions,  and 
sometimes  of  longer  passages  in  French,  and  from  her  ready 
use  of  scientific  terms.  It  is,  perhaps,  a  fair  inference  that  her 
father  was  a  naturalist  by  profession  or  native  taste,  and  that 
either  he  or  her  mother  was  French  by  birth  or  by  education. 

After  her  parents'  death,  there  is  an  interlude  in  Opal's 
recollection  which  she  does  not  understand,  remembering 
only  that  for  a  brief  season  the  sweet  tradition  of  her  mother's 
care  was  carried  on  by  an  older  woman,  possibly  a  governess, 
from  whom,  within  a  year,  she  was  taken  and,  after  recovering 
from  a  serious  illness,  given  to  the  wife  of  an  Oregon  lumber 
man,  lately  parted  from  her  first  child,  —  Opal  Whiteley,  — 
whose  place  and  name,  for  reasons  quite  unknown,  were  given 
to  the  present  Opal. 

From  some  time  in  her  sixth  year  to  the  present,  her  diary 
has  continued  without  serious  interruption;  and  from  the 


PREFACE  ix 

successive  chapters  we  shall  see  that  her  life,  apart  from  the 
gay  tranquillity  of  her  spirit,  was  not  a  happy  one.  Her 
friends  were  the  animals  and  everything  that  flies  or  swims; 
her  single  confidant  was  her  diary,  to  which  she  confided 
every  trouble  and  every  satisfaction. 

When  Opal  was  over  twelve  years  old,  a  foster-sister,  in  a 
tragic  fit  of  childish  temper,  unearthed  the  hiding-place  of 
the  diary  and  tore  it  into  a  myriad  of  fragments.  The  work 
of  years  seemed  destroyed,  but  Opal,  who  had  treasured  its 
understanding  pages,  picked  up  the  pitiful  scraps  and  stored 
them  in  a  secret  box.  There  they  lay  undisturbed  for  many 
years. 

Ill 

Such  in  briefest  outline  is  the  story  Opal  told;  and  month 
after  month,  while  chapters  of  the  diary  were  appearing  in 
the  Atlantic,  snatches  of  the  same  history,  together  with 
descriptions  of  many  unrecorded  episodes,  came  in  the  editor's 
mail ;  and  though  the  weaving  is  of  very  different  texture,  the 
pattern  is  unmistakably  the  pattern  of  the  diary.  Dates  and 
names,  peregrinations  and  marriages,  births,  deaths,  and 
adventures  less  solemn  and  less  apt  to  be  accurately  recol 
lected,  occurred  just  as  the  diary  tells  them.  The  existence 
of  the  diary  itself  was  well  remembered,  though  for  many 
years  Opal  had  never  spoken  of  it;  a  friend  recalled  the 
calamitous  day  when  the  abundant  chronicle  of  six  years  was 
destroyed;  and  a  cloud  of  witnesses  bore  testimony  to  the 
multitudinous  family  of  pets,  and  some  even  to  the  multi 
colored  names  they  bore.  There  were  many  letters  besides, 
which  came  not  to  the  Atlantic  at  all,  but  were  part  of  Opal's 
own  correspondence  with  people  "of  understanding,"  mem 
bers  by  instinct  of  that  free-masonry  which,  as  she  learned 
long  ago,  binds  folk  of  answering  hearts  and  minds.  Many  of 
these  letters  (which  rest  for  safety  in  trie  Atlantic's  treasury) 
are  messages  of  thanks  for  copies  of  that  first  book  of  Opal's  — • 


x  PREFACE 

engaging  letters,  very  personal  most  of  them,  bearing  sig 
natures  to  delight  the  eyes  of  collectors  of  autographs: 
M.  Clemenceau,  M.  Poincare,  Lord  Rayleigh,  Lord  Curzon, 
members  of  the  French  cabinet,  scientists,  men  of  letters,  men 
of  achievement.  Opal  has  sought  her  friends  all  through  the 
world;  but  her  lantern  is  bright  and  she  has  found  them.  Her 
old  Oregon  teachers  also  have  been  quick  to  bear  witness  to 
her  talents,  and  to  recall  the  formal  lessons  which  often  she 
would  not  remember,  and  the  other  more  necessary  lessons 
which  she  could  not  forget.  They  would  ask  too  whence  came 
the  French  which  they  had  never  taught  her.  An  attempt  to 
answer  that  would  take  us  far  afield.  All  we  need  do  here  is  to 
recall  that  first  time,  when  Opal,  full  of  puzzlement  over  letters 
that  simply  would  not  shape  themselves  into  familiar  phrases, 
turned  to  her  editors  and  was  told  that  they  were  French. 

"But  they  can't  be  French!  I  never  studied  French." 

But  French  they  are,  nevertheless. 


IV 

If  the  story  of  Opal  were  written  by  another  hand  than  her 
own,  the  central  theme  of  it  would  be  faith.  No  matter  how 
doubtful  the  enterprise,  the  issue  she  always  holds  as  certain, 
simply  because  the  world  is  good  and  God  loves  his  children. 
Loving  herself  all  created  things,  from  her  barrel-full  of  cater 
pillars,  whose  evolution  she  would  note  and  chronicle  from 
day  to  day,  to  the  dogs  and  horses,  squirrels,  raccoons,  and 
bats  which  peopled  the  world  she  lived  in,  she  would  thank 
God  daily  for  them,  and  very  early  in  her  life  determined  to 
devote  the  rest  of  it  to  spreading  knowledge  of  them  and  of 
their  kind  far  and  wide  among  little  children. 

To  accomplish  this,  needed  education,  and  an  education 
she  would  have.  Those  about  her  showed  no  interest;  but  by 
picking  berries,  washing,  and  work  of  all  rough  sorts,  Opal 
paid  for  the  books  which  the  high  school  required.  But  she 


PREFACE  xi 

must  do  more  than  this.  She  must  go  to  college.  To  the  State 
University  she  went,  counting  it  nothing  that  she  should  live 
in  a  room  without  furniture  other  than  a  two-dollar  cot,  and 
two  coats  for  blankets.  Family  conditions,  however,  made 
college  impossible  for  her.  After  the  illness  and  death  of  Mrs. 
Whiteley,  Opal  borrowed  a  little  money  from  friends  in  Cot 
tage  Grove,  Oregon,  and  started  alone  for  Los  Angeles,  deter 
mined  to  seek  her  livelihood  by  giving  nature  lessons  to  classes 
of  children. 

The  privations  and  disappointments  of  the  next  two  years 
would  make  an  heroic  tale;  but  she  persevered,  and  her 
classes  became  successful.  The  next  step  was  her  nature  book, 
for  which,  by  personal  canvass  for  subscriptions,  she  raised 
not  less  than  the  prodigious  sum  of  $9400.  But  the  printers 
with  a  girl  for  a  client,  demanded  more  and  still  more  money, 
and  when  the  final  $600  necessary  to  make  the  booty  mount 
to  $10,000  was  not  forthcoming,  with  a  brutality  that  would  do 
credit  to  a  Thenardier,  first  threatened,  and  then  destroyed 
the  plates. 

A  struggle  for  mere  existence  followed,  but  gradually 
Opal  triumphed,  when  she  was  overtaken  by  a  serious  illness 
and  taken  to  the  hospital.  New  and  merciful  friends,  such 
as  are  always  conjured  up  by  such  a  life  as  Opal's,  came  to  her 
assistance,  and  after  her  recovery  she  soon  started  eastward, 
to  find  a  publisher  for  her  ill-fated  volume.  The  rest  we  know. 

Yet,  after  all,  our  theme  should  not  be  Opal,  but  Opal's 
book.  She  is  the  child  of  curious  and  interesting  circum 
stance,  but  of  circumstance  her  journal  is  altogether  inde 
pendent.  The  authorship  does  not  matter,  nor  the  life  from 
which  it  came.  There  the  book  is.  Nothing  else  is  like  it, 
nor  apt  to  be.  If  there  is  alchemy  in  Nature,  it  is  in  children's 
hearts  the  unspoiled  treasure  lies,  and  for  that  room  of  the 
treasure-house,  the  Story  of  Opal  offers  a  tiny  golden  key. 

ELLERY  SEDGWICK. 
THE  ATLANTIC  OFFICE,  June,  1920. 


CONTENTS 

CHARACTERS  IN  THE  NARRATIVE xvii 

INTRODUCTION  BY  THE  AUTHOR I 

CHAPTER  I 

How  Opal  Goes  along  the  Road  beyond  the  Singing 
Creek,  and  of  all  she  Sees  in  her  New  Home 5 

CHAPTER  II 

How  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  Got  Opal  into  Trouble, 
and  how  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael  and  Sadie 
McKibben  Gave  her  Great  Comfort 9 

CHAPTER  III 

Of  the  Queer  Feels  that  Came  out  of  a  Bottle  of  Cas- 
toria,  and  of  the  Happiness  of  Larry  and  Jean 14 

CHAPTER  IV 
How  Peter  Paul  Rubens  Goes  to  School 21 

CHAPTER  V 

How  Opal  Comforted  Aphrodite,  and  how  the  Fairies 
Comforted  Opal  when  there  Was  Much  Sadness  at 
School 25 

CHAPTER  VI 

Opal  Gives  Wisdom  to  the  Potatoes,  Cleanliness  to  the 
Family  Clothes,  and  a  Delicate  Dinner  to  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus 35 

CHAPTER  VII 

The  Adventure  of  the  Tramper;  and  what  Happens 
on  Long  and  on  Short  Days 47 

CHAPTER  VIII 

How  Opal  Takes  a  Walk  in  the  Forest  of  Chantilly; 
she  Visits  Elsie  and  her  Baby  Boy,  and  Explains 
Many  Things  to  the  Girl  that  Has  no  Seeing 55 


xiv  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IX 

Of  an  Exploring  Trip  with  Brave  Horatius;  and  how 
Opal  Kept  Sadness  away  from  her  Animal  Friends  69 

CHAPTER  X 

How  Brave  Horatius  is  Lost  and  Found  again,  but 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  is  Lost  Forever 75 

CHAPTER  XI 

How  Opal  Took  the  Miller's  Brand  out  of  the  Flour- 
Sack,  and  Got  Many  Sore  Feels  thereby;  and  how 
Sparks  Come  on  Cold  Nights;  and  how  William 
Shakespeare  Has  Likings  for  Poems 81 

CHAPTER  XII 

Of  Elsie's  Brand-New  Baby,  and  all  the  Things  that 
Go  with  it;  and  the  Goodly  Wisdom  of  the  Angels, 
who  Bring  Folks  Babies  that  Are  like  them 91 

CHAPTER  XIII 

How  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  Go  for  a  Ride;  William  Shakespeare  Suffers 
One  Whipping  and  Opal  Another 100 

CHAPTER  XIV 

How  Opal  Feels  Satisfaction  Feels,  and  Takes  a  Ride 
on  William  Shakespeare;  and  all  that  Came  of  it.  .  104 

CHAPTER  XV 

Of  Jenny  Strong's  Visit,  its  Gladness  and  its  Sadness  114 
CHAPTER  XVI 

Of  the  Woods  on  a  Lonesome  Day,  and  the  Friend 
liness  of  the  Wood-Folks  on  December  Days  when 
you  Put  your  Ears  Close  and  Listen 122 

CHAPTER  XVII 

Of  Works  to  be  Done;  and  how  it  Was  that  a  Glad 
Light  Came  into  the  Eyes  of  the  Man  who  Wears 
Gray  Neckties  and  !§  Kin.d  to  Mice 1 27 


CONTENTS  xv 

CHAPTER  XVIII 

How  Opal  Pays  One  Visit  to  Elsie  and  Another  to 
Dear  Love,  and  Learns  how  to  Mend  her  Clothes 
in  a  Quick  Way 131 

CHAPTER  XIX 

Of  the  Camp  by  the  Mill  by  the  Far  Woods;  of  the 
Spanking  that  Came  from  the  New  Way  of  Mend 
ing  Clothes;  and  of  the  Long  Sleep  of  William 
Shakespeare 138 

CHAPTER  XX 

Of  the  Little  Song-Notes  that  Dance  about  Babies; 
and  of  the  Solemn  Christening  of  Solomon  Grundy  146 

CHAPTER  XXI 

How  Opal  Names  Names  of  the  Lambs  of  Aidan  of 
lona,  and  Seeks  for  the  Soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens  158 

CHAPTER  XXII 

How  Solomon  Grundy  Falls  Sick  and  Grows  Well 
again;  and  Minerva's  Chickens  are  Christened; 
and  the  Pensee  Girl,  with  the  Far-Away  Look  in 
her  Eyes,  Finds  Thirty-and-Three  Bunches  of 
Flowers 165 

CHAPTER  XXIII 

How  Opal  and  Brave  Horatius  Go  on  Explores  and 
Visit  the  Hospital.  —  How  the  Mamma  Dyes 
Clothes  and  Opal  Dyes  Clementine 177 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

How  the  Mamma's  Wish  Came  True,  and  how  Opal 
was  Spanked  for  it;  and  of  the  Likes  which  Aphro 
dite  Had  for  a  Clean  Place  to  Live  in 185 

CHAPTER  XXV 

Of  Many  Washings  and  a  Walk 193 


xvi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XXVI 

Why  it  Was  that  the  Girl  who  Has  no  Seeing  Was 
not  at  Home  when  Opal  Called ; 197 

CHAPTER  XXVII 

Of  a  Cathedral  Service  in  the  Pig-Pen.  —  How  the 
World  Looks  from  a  Man's  Shoulder 204 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 

How  Opal  Piped  with  Reeds,  and  what  a  Good  Time 
Dear  Love  Gave  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  21 2 

CHAPTER  XXIX 

How  Opal  Feels  the  Heat  of  the  Sun,  and  Decorates  a 
Goodly  Number  of  the  White  Poker-Chips  of  the 
Chore  Boy 218 

CHAPTER  XXX 

How  Opal  and  the  Little  Birds  from  the  Great  Tree 
Have  a  Happy  Time  at  the  House  of  Dear  Love.  .  .  .  226 

CHAPTER  XXXI 

How  Lola  Wears  her  White  Silk  Dress  at  Last 231 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

Of  the  Ways  that  Fairies  W>ite,  and  the  Proper  Way 
to  Drink  in  the  Song  of  the  Wood 234 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 

Of  the  Death  of  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium,  and  of  the 
Comfort  that  Sadie  McKibben  can  Give 242 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 

Of  the  Fall  of  the  Great  Tree,  and  the  Funeral  of 
Aristotle 249 

CHAPTER  XXXV 

How  the  Man  of  the  Long  Step  that  Whistles  Most  of 
the  Time  Takes  an  Interesting  Walk 253 


CONTENTS  xvii 

CHAPTER  XXXVI 

Of  Taking-Egg  Day,  and  the  Remarkable  Things  that 
Befell  thereon 259 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 

Of  the  Strange  Adventure  in  the  Woods  on  the  Going- 
Away  Day  of  Saint  Louis 270 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

How  Opal  Makes  Prepares  to  Move.  How  she  Col 
lects  all  the  Necessary  Things,  Bids  Good-bye  to 
Dear  Love,  and  Learns  that  her  Prayer  has  been 
Answered 275 

POSTSCRIPT 284 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

OPAL  WHITELEY  RECONSTRUCTING  HER  DIARY     Frontispiece 
THE  AUTHOR  AND  THE  FRAGMENTS  OF  HER  DIARY  .  .        I 

A  SPECIMEN  PAGE  OF  OPAL'S  DIARY  WRITTEN  ON  A 
PAPER  BAG 13 

LUMBER-CAMP  FOLK 33 

AT  THE  PASTURE-BARS 78 

"AFTER  WE  WERE  ACROSS  THE  RIVIERE  WE  WENT  IN  A 
MORE  SLOW  WAY" 108 

"I  WONDER  WHY  IT  IS  THE  LUMBER-CAMP  FOLK  DO  CUT 

OFF   THEIR    OVERALLS    WHERE      THEY      DO      MEET      THE 

BOOTS" 140 

A  PATH  TO  "EXPLORES"  IN  THE  FAR  WOODS 187 


CHARACTERS  IN  THE  NARRATIVE 

AGAMEMNON  MENELAUS  DINDON,  a  pet  turkey. 

ADAMNAN  OF  IONA,  a  sheep. 

ALAN  OF  BRETAGNE,  a  fir  tree. 

AIDAN  OF  IONA  come  from  Lindisfarne,  the  shepherd. 

ALBERIC  DE  BRIANCON,  a  sheep. 

ALCUIN,  a  sheep. 

ALFRIC  OF  CANTERBURY,  a  sheep. 

ANACREON  HERODOTUS,  a  lamb  a  little  more  little  than  the 

other  little  lamb. 

ANDROMEDA,  sister  hen  of  Clementine. 
ANTHONYA  MUNDY,  Solomon  Grundy's  little  pig  sister  that  has 

not  got  as  much  curl  in  her  tail  as  has  Solomon  Grundy. 
APHRODITE,  the  mother-pig. 
ARISTOTLE,  a  pet  bat  who  died  of  eating  too  many  mosquitoes. 


MB!  two  little  trees       Edward 


BEDE  OF  JARROW,  a  sheep. 
BEN  JONSON,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
BRAVE  HORATIUS,  the  shepherd  dog. 
BYRON,  a  fir  tree  in  the  lane. 

CASSIOPEE,  a  neighbor's  pig. 

CARDINAL  RICHELIEU,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

CHARLEMAGNE,  the  most  tall  tree  of  all  the  trees  growing 

in  the  lane. 

CLEMENTINE,  a  Plymouth  Rock  hen. 
CYNEWULF,  a  sheep. 

DALLAN  FORGAILL,  a  sheep. 

DEAR  LOVE  AND  HER  YOUNG  HUSBAND,  neighbors  and  dear 
friends. 


xxii  CHARACTERS 

EDMUND  SPENSER,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

EDWARD  III,  a  fir  tree  near  the  singing  creek  where  the  wil 
lows  grow. 

EDWARD,  PRINCE  OF  WALES,  a  younger  tree  growing  near 
unto  Edward  III. 

EDWIN  OF  DIERA,  a  sheep. 

ELIDOR,  a  sheep. 

ELIZABETH  BARRETT  BROWNING,  a  pet  cow  with  poetry  in 
her  tracks. 

ELSIE  AND  HER  YOUNG  HUSBAND,  neighbors  and  interesting 
friends. 

EPICURUS  PYTHAGORAS,  a  lamb. 

ETIENNE  OF  BLOIS,  a  fir  tree  in  the  woods. 

FELIX  MENDELSSOHN,  a  very  dear  pet  mouse. 

FELIX  OF  CROYLAND,  a  sheep. 

FRANCIS  BEAUMONT,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

GEOFFROI  CHAUCER,  a  little  squirrel  that  was  hurt  by  the 

black  cat. 

GODEFROI  OF  BOUILLON,  a  fir  tree  in  the  woods. 
GOOD  KING  EDWARD  I,  a  fir  tree  growing  in  the  lane. 
GRANDPERE,  Mrs.  Whiteley's  father. 
GUY  DE  CAVAILLON,  a  sheep. 
GWIAN,  a  sheep. 

HOMER  ARCHIMEDES  CHILON,  a  little  lamb  more  big  than 

all  the  other  lambs. 
HUGH  CAPET,  a  fir  tree  growing  in  the  lane. 

ISAIAH,  a  plain  dog. 

JEAN  DE  LA  FONTAINE,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
JEAN  MOLIERE,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
JEAN  RACINE,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 


CHARACTERS  xxiii 

JENNY  STRONG,  a  visitor  with  an  interesting  bonnet. 

JOHN  OF  GAUNT,  DUKE  OF  LANCASTER,  a  tree  growing  near 

unto  Edward  III. 
JOHN  FLETCHER,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

KEATS,  an  oak  tree  in  the  lane. 

LARS  PORSENA  OF  CLUSIUM,  a  pet  crow  with  a  fondness  for 

collecting  things. 
LIONEL,   DUKE   OF   CLARENCE,   a   tree  growing   near   unto 

Edward  III. 
LOLA,  a  little  girl  in  school,  who  had  wants  for  a  white  silk 

dress. 
Louis  II,  LE  GRAND  CONDE,  a  wood-mouse  with  likes  to  ride 

in  the  sleeve  of  my  red  dress. 
Louis  VI,  a  grand  fir  tree  in  the  woods. 
LUCIAN  HORACE  OVID  VIRGIL,  a  toad. 

"MAMMA,  THE,"  Mrs.  Whiteley. 

MARCUS  AURELIUS,  a  lamb. 

MATHILDE  PLANTAGENET,  the  baby  calf  of  the  gentle  Jersey 

cow,  that  came  on  the  night  of  the  coming  of  Elsie's  baby. 
MENANDER   EURIPIDES  THEOCRITUS  THUCYDIDES,   a   most 

dear  lamb  that  had  needs  to  be  mothered. 
MICHAEL  ANGELO  SANZIO  RAPHAEL,  a  grand  fir  tree  with  an 

understanding  soul. 

NANNERL  MOZART,  a  very  shy  mouse. 
NAPOLEON,  the  Rhode  Island  Red  rooster. 
NICHOLAS  BOILEAU,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

OLIVER  GOLDSMITH,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

ORDERIC,  a  sheep. 

"PAPA,  THE,"  Mr.  Whiteley. 

PEACE,  a  mother  hen  that  has  got  all  her  children  grown  up. 

PERIANDER  PINDAR,  a  lamb. 


xxiv  CHARACTERS 

PETER  PAUL  RUBENS,  a  very  dear  pet  pig. 
Pius  VII,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 

twin  bat, 


PLUTARCH  DEMOSTHENES,  a  lamb. 

QUEEN  ELEANOR  OF  CASTILE,  a  fir  tree  in  the  lane  growing 

by  Edward  I. 
QUEEN  PHILIPPA  OF  HAINAULT,  a  fir  tree  growing  by 

Edward  III. 

RAOUL  DE  HOUDENC,  a  sheep. 

RAYMOND  OF  TOULOUSE,  a  fir  tree  in  the  woods. 

SADIE  McKiBBEN,  a  comforter  in  time  of  trouble. 
SAINT  Louis,  a  fir  tree  growing  in  the  lane. 
SAMUEL  TAYLOR  COLERIDGE,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
SAVONAROLA,  a  sorrel  horse. 
SHELLEY,  a  fir  tree  growing  in  the  lane. 
SIR  FRANCIS  BACON,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
SIR  PHILIP  SIDNEY,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
SIR  WALTER  RALEIGH,  one  of  Minerva's  baby  chickens. 
SOLOMON  GRUNDY,  a  very  dear  baby  pig. 
SOLON  THALES,  a  lamb. 

SOPHOCLES  DIOGENES,  a  lamb  with  a  short  tail  and  a  ques 
tion-look  in  his  eyes. 

THEODORE  ROOSEVELT,  a  fir  tree  in  the  lane. 

THOMAS  CHATTERTON  JUPITER  ZEUS,  a  most  dear  velvety 

wood-rat. 
TIBULLUS  THEOGNIS,  a  fuzzy  lamb  with  very  long  legs. 

WILLIAM  MAKEPEACE  THACKERAY,   a  little  bird   that  was 

hurt. 
WILLIAM  SHAKESPEARE,  an  old  gray  horse  with    an    under 

standing  soul. 
WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH,  an  oak  tree  in  the  lane. 


The  Story  of  Opal 

The  Journal  of 
An  Understanding  Heart 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

INTRODUCTION  BY  THE  AUTHOR 

OF  the  days  before  I  was  taken  to  the  lumber 
camps  there  is  little  I  remember.  As  piece  by  piece 
the  journal  comes  together,  some  things  come  back. 
There  are  references  here  and  there  in  the  journal 
to  things  I  saw  or  heard  or  learned  in  those  days 
before  I  came  to  the  lumber  camps. 

There  were  walks  in  the  fields  and  woods.  When 
on  these  walks,  Mother  would  tell  me  to  listen  to 
what  the  flowers  and  trees  and  birds  were  saying. 
We  listened  together.  And  on  the  way  she  told  me 
poems  and  other  lovely  things,  some  of  which  she 
wrote  in  the  two  books  and  also  in  others  which  I 
had  not  with  me  in  the  lumber  camps.  On  the 
walks,  and  after  we  came  back,  she  had  me  to 
print  what  I  had  seen  and  what  I  had  heard.  After 
that  she  told  me  of  different  people  and  their  won 
derful  work  on  earth.  Then  she  would  have  me  tell 
again  to  her  what  she  had  told  me.  After  I  came  to 
the  lumber  camp,  I  told  these  things  to  the  trees 
and  the  brooks  and  the  flowers. 

There  were  five  words  my  mother  said  to  me 
over  and  over  again,  as  she  had  me  to  print  what  I 
had  seen  and  what  I  had  heard.  These  words  were: 


2  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

What,  Where,  When,  How,  Why.  They  had  a  very 
great  influence  over  all  my  observations  and  the 
recording  of  those  observations  during  all  the  days 
of  my  childhood.  And  my  Mother  having  put  such 
strong  emphasis  on  these  five  words  accounts  for 
much  of  the  detailed  descriptions  that  are  through 
out  my  diary. 

No  children  I  knew.  There  were  only  Mother 
and  the  kind  woman  who  taught  me  and  looked 
after  me  and  dressed  me,  and  the  young  girl  who 
fed  me.  And  there  was  Father  in  those  few  days 
when  he  was  home  from  the  far  lands.  Those  were 
wonderful  days — his  home-coming  days.  Then  he 
would  take  me  on  his  knee  and  ride  me  on  his 
shoulder  and  tell  me  of  the  animals  and  birds  of  the 
far  lands.  And  we  went  for  many  walks,  and  he 
would  talk  to  me  about  the  things  along  the  way. 
It  was  then  he  taught  me  comparer. 

There  was  one  day  when  I  went  with  Mother  in 
a  boat.  It  was  a  little  way  on  the  sea.  It  was  a 
happy  day.  Then  something  happened  and  we 
were  all  in  the  water.  Afterward,  when  I  called  for 
Mother,  they  said  the  sea  waves  had  taken  her  and 
she  was  gone  to  heaven.  I  remember  the  day  be 
cause  I  never  saw  my  Mother  again. 

The  time  was  not  long  after  that  day  with  Mother 
in  the  boat,  when  one  day  the  kind  woman  who 
taught  me  and  took  care  of  me  did  tell  me  gently 
that  Father  too  had  gone  to  heaven  while  he  was 
away  in  the  far  lands.  She  said  she  was  going  to 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  3 

take  me  to  my  grandmother  and  grandfather,  the 
mother  and  father  of  my  Father. 

We  started.  But  I  never  got  to  see  my  dear 
grandmother  and  grandfather,  whom  I  had  never 
seen.  Something  happened  on  the  way  and  I  was 
all  alone.  And  I  did  n't  feel  happy.  There  were 
strange  people  that  I  had  never  seen  before,  and  I 
was  afraid  of  them.  They  made  me  to  keep  very 
still,  and  we  went  for  no  walks  in  the  field.  But  we 
traveled  a  long,  long  way. 

Then  it  was  they  put  me  with  Mrs.  Whiteley. 
The  day  they  put  me  with  her  was  a  rainy  day,  and 
I  thought  she  was  a  little  afraid  of  them  too.  She 
took  me  on  the  train  and  in  a  stage-coach  to  the 
lumber  camp.  She  called  me  Opal  Whiteley,  the 
same  name  as  that  of  another  little  girl  who  was 
the  same  size  as  I  was  when  her  mother  lost  her. 
She  took  me  into  the  camp  as  her  own  child,  and 
so  called  me  as  we  lived  in  the  different  lumber 
camps  and  in  the  mill  town. 

With  me  I  took  into  camp  a  small  box.  In  a 
slide  drawer  in  the  bottom  of  this  box  were  two 
books  which  my  own  Mother  and  Father,  the 
Angel  Father  and  Mother  I  always  speak  of  in  my 
diary,  had  written  in.  I  do  not  think  the  people 
who  put  me  with  Mrs.  Whiteley  knew  about  the 
books  in  the  lower  part  of  the  box,  for  they  took 
everything  out  of  the  top  part  of  the  box  and  tossed 
it  aside.  I  picked  it  up  and  kept  it  with  me,  and, 
being  as  I  was  more  quiet  with  it  in  my  arms,  they 


4  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

allowed  me  to  keep  it,  thinking  it  was  empty. 
These  books  I  kept  always  with  me,  until  one  day 
I  shall  always  remember,  when  I  was  about  twelve 
years  old,  they  were  taken  from  the  box  I  kept 
then  hid  in  the  woods.  Day  by  day  I  spelled  over 
and  over  the  many  words  that  were  written  in 
them.  From  them  I  selected  names  for  my  pets. 
And  it  was  the  many  little  things  recorded  there 
that  helped  me  to  remember  what  my  Mother  and 
Father  had  already  told  me  of  different  great  lives 
and  their  work;  and  these  books  with  these  records 
made  me  very  eager  to  be  learning  more  and  more 
of  what  was  recorded  in  them.  These  two  books  I 
studied  much  more  than  I  did  my  books  at  school. 
Their  influence  upon  my  life  has  been  great. 


CHAPTER  I 

How  Opal  Goes  along  the  Road  beyond  the  Singing  Creek,  and 
of  all  she  Sees  in  her  New  Home. 

TO-DAY  the  folks  are  gone  away  from  the  house 
we  do  live  in.  They  are  gone  a  little  way  away,  to 
the  ranch-house  where  the  grandpa  does  live.  I  sit 
on  our  steps  and  I  do  print.  I  like  it  —  this  house 
we  do  live  in  being  at  the  edge  of  the  near  woods. 
So  many  little  people  do  live  in  the  near  woods.  I 
do  have  conversations  with  them.  I  found  the  near 
woods  first  day  I  did  go  explores.  That  was  the 
next  day  after  we  were  come  here.  All  the  way 
from  the  other  logging  camp  in  the  beautiful  moun 
tains  we  came  in  a  wagon.  Two  horses  were  in  front 
of  us.  They  walked  in  front  of  us  all  the  way. 
When  first  we  were  come,  we  did  live  with  some 
other  people  in  the  ranch-house  that  was  n't  all 
builded  yet.  After  that  we  lived  in  a  tent,  and  often 
when  it  did  rain  many  raindrops  came  right  through 
the  tent.  They  did  fall  in  patters  on  the  stove  and 
on  the  floor  and  on  the  table.  Too,  they  did  make 
the  quilts  on  the  beds  some  damp  —  but  that  did 
n't  matter  much  because  they  soon  got  dried  hang 
ing  around  the  stove. 

By  and  by  we  were  come  from  the  tent  to  this 
lumber  shanty.  It  has  got  a  divide  in  it.  One  room 
we  do  have  sleeps  in.  In  the  other  room  we  do 


6  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

have  breakfast  and  supper.  Back  of  the  house  are 
some  nice  wood-rats.  The  most  lovely  of  them  all 
is  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  By  the  wood 
shed  is  a  brook.  It  goes  singing  on.  Its  joy  song 
does  sing  in  my  heart.  Under  the  house  live  some 
mice.  I  give  them  bread-scraps  to  eat.  Under  the 
steps  lives  a  toad.  He  and  I  —  we  are  friends.  I 
have  named  him.  I  call  him  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil. 

Between  the  ranch-house  and  the  house  we  live 
in  is  the  singing  creek  where  the  willows  grow.  We 
have  conversations.  And  there  I  do  dabble  my  toes 
beside  the  willows.  I  feel  the  feels  of  gladness  they 
do  feel.  And  often  it  is  I  go  from  the  willows  to  the 
meeting  of  the  road.  That  is  just  in  front  of  the 
ranch-house.  There  the  road  does  have  divides.  It 
goes  three  ways.  One  way  the  road  does  go  to  the 
house  of  Sadie  McKibben.  It  does  n't  stop  when  it 
gets  to  her  house,  but  mostly  I  do.  The  road  just 
goes  on  to  the  mill  town  a  little  way  away.  In  its 
going  it  goes  over  a  hill.  Sometimes  —  the  times 
Sadie  McKibben  is  n't  at  home  —  I  do  go  with 
Brave  Horatius  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  We  look  looks 
down  upon  the  mill  town.  Then  we  do  face  about 
and  come  again  home.  Always  we  make  stops  at 
the  house  of  Sadie  McKibben.  Her  house  —  it  is 
close  to  the  mill  by  the  far  woods.  That  mill  makes 
a  lot  of  noise.  It  can  do  two  things  at  once.  It 
makes  the  noises  and  also  it  does  saw  the  logs  into 
boards.  About  the  mill  do  live  some  people,  mostly 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  7 

men-folks.  There  does  live  the  good  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice. 

Another  way,  the  road  does  go  the  way  I  go 
when  I  go  to  the  school-house  where  I  go  to  school. 
When  it  is  come  there,  it  does  go  right  on  —  on  to 
the  house  of  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  When  it 
gets  to  her  house,  it  does  make  a  bend,  and  it  does 
go  its  way  to  the  blue  hills.  As  it  goes,  its  way  is 
near  unto  the  way  of  the  riviere  that  sings  as  it 
comes  from  the  blue  hills.  There  are  singing  brooks 
that  come  going  to  the  riviere.  These  brooks  — 
they  and  I  —  we  are  friends.  I  call  them  Orne  and 
Loing  and  Yonne  and  Rille  and  Essonne. 

Near  unto  the  road,  long  ways  between  the 
brooks,  are  ranch-houses.  I  have  not  knowing  of 
the  people  that  do  dwell  in  them.  But  I  do  know 
some  of  their  cows  and  horses  and  pigs.  They  are 
friendly  folk.  Around  the  ranch-houses  are  fields. 
Woods  used  to  grow  where  now  grows  grain.  When 
the  mowers  cut  down  the  grain,  they  also  do  cut 
down  the  cornflowers  that  grow  in  the  fields.  I 
follow  along  after  and  I  do  pick  them  up.  Of  some 
of  them  I  make  a  guirlande.  When  the  guirlande 
is  made,  I  do  put  it  around  the  neck  of  William 
Shakespeare.  He  does  have  appreciations.  As  we 
go  walking  down  the  lane,  I  do  talk  with  him  about 
the  one  he  is  named  for.  And  he  does  have  under 
standing.  He  is  such  a  beautiful  gray  horse,  and 
his  ways  are  ways  of  gentleness.  Too,  he  does  have 
likings  like  the  likings  I  have  for  the  hills  that  are 


8  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

beyond  the  fields  —  for  the  hills  where  are  trails 
and  tall  fir  trees  like  the  wonderful  ones  that  do 
grow  by  the  road. 

So  go  two  of  the  roads.  The  other  road  does  lead 
to  the  upper  logging  camps.  It  goes  only  a  little 
way  from  the  ranch-house  and  it  comes  to  a  riviere. 
Long  time  ago,  this  road  did  have  a  longing  to  go 
across  the  riviere.  Some  wise  people  did  have  un 
derstandings  and  they  did  build  it  a  bridge  to  go 
across  on.  It  went  across  the  bridge  and  it  goes  on 
and  on  between  the  hills  —  the  hills  where  dwell 
the  talking  fir  trees.  By  its  side  goes  the  railroad 
track.  Its  appears  are  not  so  nice  as  are  the  ap 
pears  of  the  road,  and  it  has  got  only  a  squeaky 
voice.  But  this  railroad  track  does  have  shining 
rails  —  they  stretch  away  and  away,  like  a  silver 
ribbon  that  came  from  the  moon  in  the  night.  I  go 
a-walking  on  these  rails.  I  get  off  when  I  do  hear 
the  approaches  of  the  dinky  engine.  On  this  track 
on  every  day,  excepting  Sunday,  comes  and  goes 
the  logging  train.  It  goes  to  the  camps  and  it  does 
bring  back  cars  of  logs  and  cars  of  lumber.  These  it 
does  take  to  the  mill  town.  There  engines  more  big 
do  take  the  cars  of  lumber  to  towns  more  big. 

Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  has  been  wait 
ing  in  my  sunbonnet  a  long  time.  He  wants  to  go 
on  explores.  Too,  Brave  Horatius  and  Isaiah  are 
having  longings  in  their  eyes.  And  I  hear  Peter 
Paul  Rubens  squealing  in  the  pig-pen.  Now  I  go. 
We  go  on  explores. 


CHAPTER  II 

How  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  Got  Opal  into  Trouble,  and  how 
Michael  Angela  Sanzio  Raphael  and  Sadie  McKibben  Gave 
her  Great  Comfort. 

TO-DAY  was  a  warm,  hot  day.  It  was  warm  in  the 
morning  and  hot  at  noon.  Before  noon  and  after 
noon  and  after  that,  I  carried  water  to  the  hired 
men  in  the  field  in  a  jug.  I  got  the  water  out  of  the 
pump  to  put  into  the  jug.  I  had  to  put  water  in  the 
pump  before  any  would  come  out.  The  men  were 
glad  to  have  that  water  in  the  jug. 

While  I  was  taking  the  water  in  the  jug  to  the 
men  in  the  field,  from  her  sewing-basket  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium  took  the  mamma's  thimble, 
and  she  did  n't  have  it  and  she  could  n't  find  it. 
She  sent  me  to  watch  out  for  it  in  the  house  and  in 
the  yard  and  everywhere.  I  know  how  Lars  Por 
sena  of  Clusium  has  a  fondness  for  collecting  things 
of  bright  colors,  like  unto  my  fondness  for  collecting 
rocks;  so  I  ran  to  his  hiding-place  in  the  old  oak 
tree.  There  I  found  the  mamma's  thimble;  but 
she  said  the  pet  crow's  having  taken  it  was  as 
though  I  had  taken  it,  because  he  was  my  property; 
so  I  got  a  spanking  with  the  hazel  switches  that 
grow  near  unto  our  back  steps.  Inside  me  I  could 
n't  help  feeling  she  ought  to  have  given  me  thanks 
for  finding  the  thimble. 


io  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

Afterwards  I  made  little  vases  out  of  clay.  I  put 
them  in  the  oven  to  bake.  The  mamma  found  my 
vases  of  clay.  She  threw  them  out  the  window. 
When  I  went  to  pick  them  up,  they  were  broken. 
I  felt  sad  inside.  I  went  to  talk  things  over  with 
my  chum,  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael.  He  is 
that  most  tall  fir  tree  that  grows  just  back  of  the 
barn.  I  scooted  up  the  barn  door.  From  there 
I  climbed  onto  the  lower  part  of  the  barn  roof.  I 
walked  up  a  ways.  Up  there  I  took  a  long  look  at 
the  world  about.  One  gets  such  a  good  wide  view 
of  the  world  from  a  barn  roof.  After,  I  looked  looks 
in  four  straight  ways  and  four  corner  ways.  I  said  a 
little  prayer.  I  always  say  a  little  prayer  before  I 
jump  off  the  barn  into  the  arms  of  Michael  Angelo 
Sanzio  Raphael,  because  that  jump  is  quite  a  long 
jump,  and  if  I  did  not  land  in  the  arms  of  Michael 
Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael,  I  might  get  my  leg  or  neck 
broken.  That  would  mean  I  Jd  have  to  keep  still  a 
long  time.  Now  I  think  that  would  be  the  most 
awful  thing  that  could  happen,  for  I  do  so  love  to  be 
active.  So  I  always  say  a  little  prayer  and  do  that 
jump  in  a  careful  way.  To-day,  when  I  did  jump,  I 
did  land  right  proper  in  that  fir  tree.  It  is  such  a 
comfort  to  nestle  up  to  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio 
Raphael  when  one  is  in  trouble.  He  is  such  a  grand 
tree.  He  has  an  understanding  soul. 

After  I  talked  with  him  and  listened  unto  his 
voice,  I  slipped  down  out  of  his  arms.  I  intended 
to  slip  into  the  barn  corral,  but  I  slid  off  the  wrong 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  n 

limb  in  the  wrong  way.  I  landed  in  the  pig-pen 
on  top  of  Aphrodite,  the  mother-pig.  She  gave  a 
peculiar  grunt.  It  was  not  like  those  grunts  she 
gives  when  she  is  comfortable. 

I  felt  I  ought  to  do  something  to  make  up  to  her 
for  having  come  into  her  home  out  of  the  arms  of 
Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael  instead  of  calling 
on  her  in  the  proper  way.  I  decided  a  good  way  to 
make  it  up  to  her  would  be  to  pull  down  the  rail 
fence  in  that  place  where  the  pig-pen  is  weak,  and 
take  her  for  a  walk.  I  went  to  the  wood-shed. 
I  got  a  piece  of  clothes-line  rope.  While  I  was  mak 
ing  a  halter  for  the  mother-pig,  I  took  my  Sunday- 
best  hair-ribbon  —  the  blue  ribbon  the  Uncle 
Henry  gave  to  me.  I  made  a  bow  on  that  halter. 
I  put  the  bow  just  over  her  ears.  That  gave  her  the 
proper  look.  When  the  mamma  saw  us  go  walking 
by,  she  took  the  bow  from  off  the  pig.  She  put  that 
bow  in  the  trunk;  me  she  put  under  the  bed. 

By-and-by  —  some  time  long  it  was  —  she  took 
me  from  under  the  bed  and  gave  me  a  spanking. 
She  did  not  have  time  to  give  me  a  spanking  when 
she  put  me  under  the  bed.  She  left  me  there  until 
she  did  have  time.  After  she  did  it  she  sent  me  to 
the  ranch-house  to  get  milk  for  the  baby.  I  walked 
slow  through  the  oak  grove,  looking  for  caterpillars. 
I  found  nine.  Then  I  went  to  the  pig-pen.  The 
chore  boy  was  fixing  back  the  rails  I  had  pulled 
down.  His  temper  was  quite  warm.  He  was  saying 
prayer  words  in  a  very  quick  way.  I  went  not  near 


12  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

unto  him.  I  slipped  around  near  Michael  Angelo 
Sanzio  Raphael.  I  peeked  in  between  the  fence- 
rails.  Aphrodite  was  again  in  the  pig-pen.  She  was 
snoozing,  so  I  tiptoed  over  to  the  rain-barrel  by  the 
barn.  I  raised  mosquitoes  in  the  rain-barrel  for  my 
pet  bats.  Aristotle  eats  more  mosquitoes  than 
Plato  and  Pliny  eat. 

On  my  way  to  the  house  I  met  Clementine,  the 
Plymouth  Rock  hen,  with  her  family.  She  only  has 
twelve  baby  chickens  now.  The  grandpa  say  the 
other  one  she  did  have  died  of  new  monia  because 
I  gave  it  too  many  baths  for  its  health.  When 
I  came  to  the  house  one  of  the  cats,  a  black  one, 
was  sitting  on  the  doorstep.  I  have  not  friendly 
feelings  for  that  big  black  cat.  Day  before  the 
day  that  was  yesterday  I  saw  him  kill  the  mother 
hummingbird.  He  knocked  her  with  his  paw  when 
she  came  to  the  nasturtiums.  I  did  n't  even  speak 
to  him. 

Just  as  I  was  going  to  knock  on  the  back  door 
for  the  milk,  I  heard  a  voice  [on  the  front  porch.  It 
was  the  voice  of  a  person  who  has  an  understanding 
soul.  I  hurried  around  to  the  front  porch.  There 
was  Sadie  McKibben  with  a  basket  on  her  arm.  She 
beamed  a  smile  at  me.  I  went  over  and  nestled  up 
against  her  blue  gingham  apron  with  cross  stitches 
on  it.  The  freckles  on  Sadie  McKibben's  wrinkled 
face  are  as  many  as  are  the  stars  in  the  Milky  Way, 
and  she  is  awful  old  —  going  on  forty.  Her  hands 
are  all  brown  and  cracked  like  the  dried-up  mud- 


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A    SPECIMEN    PAGE    OF    OPAL  S    DIARY   WRITTEN    ON 
A    PAPER    BAG 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  13 

puddles  by  the  roadside  in  July,  and  she  has  an 
understanding  soul.  She  always  has  bandages 
ready  in  her  pantry  when  some  of  my  pets  get  hurt. 
There  are  cookies  in  her  cookie-jar  when  I  don't 
get  home  for  meals,  and  she  allows  me  to  stake  out 
earthworm  claims  in  her  back  yard. 

She  walked  along  beside  me  when  I  took  the  milk 
home.  When  she  came  near  the  lane,  she  took  from 
her  basket  wrapping-papers  and  gave  them  to  me 
to  print  upon.  Then  she  kissed  me  good-bye  upon 
the  cheek  and  went  her  way  to  her  home.  I  went 
my  way  to  the  house  we  live  in.  After  the  mamma 
had  switched  me  for  not  getting  back  sooner  with 
the  milk,  she  told  me  to  fix  the  milk  for  the  baby. 
The  baby's  bottle  used  to  be  a  brandy  bottle,  but  it 
evoluted  into  a  milk  bottle  when  they  put  a  nipple 
onto  it. 

I  sit  here  on  the  doorstep  printing  this  on  the 
wrapping-paper  Sadie  McKibben  gave  me.  The 
baby  is  in  bed  asleep.  The  mamma  and  the  rest  of 
the  folks  is  gone  to  the  ranch-house.  When  they 
went  away,  she  said  for  me  to  stay  in  the  doorway 
to  see  that  nothing  comes  to  carry  the  baby  away. 
By  the  step  is  Brave  Horatius.  At  my  feet  is 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  I  hear  songs  — 
lullaby  songs  of  the  trees.  The  back  part  of  me 
feels  a  little  bit  sore,  but  I  am  happy  listening  to 
the  twilight  music  of  God's  good  world.  I'm  real 
glad  I'm  alive. 


CHAPTER  III 

Of  the  Queer  Feels  that  Came  out  of  a  Bottle  of  Castoria,  and 
of  the  Happiness  of  Larry  and  Jean. 

THE  colic  had  the  baby  today,  and  there  was  no 
Castoria  for  the  pains;  there  was  none  because 
yesterday  Pearl 1  and  I  climbed  upon  a  chair  and 
then  upon  the  dresser  and  drank  up  the  new  bottle 
of  Castoria;  but  the  bottle  had  an  ache  in  it  and  we 
swallowed  the  ache  with  the  Castoria.  That  gave 
us  queer  feels.  Pearl  lay  down  on  the  bed.  I  did 
rub  her  head.  But  she  said  it  was  n't  her  head  —  it 
was  her  back  that  hurt.  Then  she  said  it  was  her 
leg  that  ached.  The  mamma  came  in  the  house 
then,  and  she  did  take  Pearl  in  a  quick  way  to  the 
ranch-house. 

It  was  a  good  time  for  me  to  go  away  exploring, 
but  I  did  n't  feel  like  going  on  an  exploration  trip. 
I  just  sat  on  the  doorstep.  I  did  sit  there  and  hold 
my  chin  in  my  hand.  I  did  have  no  longings  to 
print.  I  only  did  have  longings  not  to  have  those 
queer  feels.  Brave  Horatius  came  walking  by.  He 
did  make  a  stop  at  the  doorstep.  He  wagged  his 
tail.  That  meant  he  wanted  to  go  on  an  explora 
tion  trip.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  came  from  the 
oak  tree.  He  did  perch  on  the  back  of  Brave 
Horatius.  He  gave  two  caws.  That  meant  he 

1  A  foster-sister. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  15 

wanted  to  go  on  an  exploration  trip.  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  came  from  under  the 
house.  He  just  crawled  into  my  lap.  I  gave  him 
pats  and  he  cuddled  his  nose  up  under  my  curls. 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  did  squeal  out  in  the  pig-pen. 
He  squealed  the  squeals  he  does  squeal  when  he 
wants  to  go  on  an  exploration  trip. 

Brave  Horatius  did  wait  and  wait,  but  still  those 
queer  feels  would  n't  go  away.  Pretty  soon  I  got 
awful  sick.  By-and-by  I  did  have  better  feels.  And 
to-day  my  feels  are  all  right  and  the  mamma  is  gone 
a-visiting  and  I  am  going  on  an  exploration  trip. 
Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  are  waiting  while  I  do  print  this.  And  now 
we  are  going  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  blue  hills. 

Sometimes  I  share  my  bread  and  jam  with  Yel 
lowjackets,  who  have  a  home  on  the  bush  by  the 
road,  twenty  trees  and  one  distant  from  the  gar 
den.  To-day  I  climbed  upon  the  old  rail  fence  close 
to  their  home  with  a  piece  and  a  half  of  bread  and 
jam  and  the  half  piece  for  them  and  the  piece  for 
myself.  But  they  all  wanted  to  be  served  at  once, 
so  it  became  necessary  to  turn  over  all  bread  and 
jam  on  hand.  I  broke  it  into  little  pieces,  and  they 
had  a  royal  feast  there  on  the  old  fence-rail.  I 
wanted  my  bread  and  jam;  but  then  Yellowjackets 
are  such  interesting  fairies,  being  among  the  world's 
first  paper-makers;  and  baby  Yellowjackets  are 


16  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

such  chubby  youngsters.  Thinking  of  these  things 
makes  it  a  joy  to  share  one's  bread  and  jam  with 
these  wasp  fairies. 

When  I  was  coming  back  from  feeding  them  I 
heard  a  loud  noise.  That  Rob  Ryder  was  out  there 
by  the  chute,  shouting  at  God  in  a  very  quick  way. 
He  was  begging  God  to  dam  that  chute  right  there 
in  our  back  yard.  Why,  if  God  answered  his  prayer, 
we  would  be  in  an  awful  fix.  The  house  we  live  in 
would  be  under  water,  if  God  dammed  the  chute. 
Now  I  think  anger  had  Rob  Ryder  or  he  would  not 
pray  kind  God  to  be  so  unkind. 

When  I  came  again  to  the  house  we  live  in,  the 
mamma  was  cutting  out  biscuits  with  the  baking- 
powder  can.  She  put  the  pan  of  biscuits  on  the 
wood-box  back  of  the  stove.  She  put  a  most  clean 
dish-towel  over  the  biscuits,  then  she  went  to  gather 
in  clothes.  I  got  a  thimble  from  the  machine 
drawer.  I  cut  little  round  biscuits  from  the  big 
biscuits.  The  mamma  found  me.  She  put  the 
thimble  back  in  the  machine  drawer.  She  put  me 
under  the  bed.  Here  under  the  bed  I  now  print. 

By-and-by,  after  a  long  time,  the  mamma  called 
me  to  come  out  from  under  the  bed.  She  told  me 
to  put  on  my  coat  and  her  big  fascinator  on  my 
head.  She  fastened  my  coat  with  safety-pins,  then 
she  gave  me  a  lard-pail  with  its  lid  on  tight.  She 
told  me  to  go  straight  to  the  grandpa's  house  for 
the  milk,  and  to  come  straight  home  again.  I  started 
to  go  straight  for  the  milk.  When  I  came  near  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  17 

hospital,  I  went  over  to  it  to  get  the  pet  mouse, 
Felix  Mendelssohn.  I  though  that  a  walk  in  the 
fresh  air  would  be  good  for  his  health.  I  took  one 
of  the  safety-pins  out  of  my  coat.  I  pinned  up  a 
corner  of  the  fascinator.  That  made  a  warm  place 
next  to  my  curls  for  Felix  Mendelssohn  to  ride  in. 
I  call  this  mouse  Felix  Mendelssohn  because  some 
times  he  makes  very  sweet  music. 

Then  I  crossed  to  the  cornfield.  A  cornfield  is  a 
very  nice  place,  and  some  days  we  children  make 
hair  for  our  clothes-pin  dolls  from  the  silken  tassels 
of  the  corn  that  grow  in  the  grandpa's  cornfield. 
Sometimes,  which  is  quite  often,  we  break  the 
cornstalks  in  getting  the  silk  tassels.  That  makes 
bumps  on  the  grandpa's  temper. 

To-night  I  walked  zigzag  across  the  field  to  look 
for  things.  Into  my  apron  pocket  I  put  bits  of 
little  rocks.  By  a  fallen  cornstalk  I  met  two  of  my 
mouse  friends.  I  gave  them  nibbles  of  food  from 
the  other  apron  pocket.  I  went  on  and  saw  a  fat 
old  toad  by  a  clod.  Mice  and  toads  do  have  such 
beautiful  eyes.  I  saw  two  caterpillars  on  an  ear  of 
corn  after  I  turned  the  tassels  back.  All  along  the 
way  I  kept  hearing  voices.  Little  leaves  were 
whispering,  "Come,  petite  Francoise,"  over  in  the 
lane.  I  saw  another  mouse  with  beautiful  eyes. 
Then  I  saw  a  man  and  woman  coming  across  the 
field.  The  man  was  carrying  a  baby. 

Soon  I  met  them.  It  was  Larry  and  Jean  and 
their  little  baby.  They  let  me  pat  the  baby's  hand 


1 8  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

and  smooth  back  its  hair,  for  I  do  so  love  babies. 
When  I  grow  up  I  want  twins  and  eight  more 
children,  and  I  want  to  write  outdoor  books  for 
children  everywhere. 

To-night,  after  Larry  and  Jean  started  on,  I 
turned  again  to  wave  good-bye.  I  remembered  the 
first  time  I  saw  Larry  and  Jean,  and  the  bit  of 
poetry  he  said  to  her.  They  were  standing  by  an 
old  stump  in  the  lane  where  the  leaves  whispered. 
Jean  was  crying.  He  patted  her  on  the  shoulder 
and  said:  — 

"There,  little  girl,  don't  cry, 
I'll  come  back  and  marry  you  by-and-by." 

And  he  did.  And  the  angels  looking  down  from 
heaven  saw  their  happiness  and  brought  a  baby 
real  soon,  when  they  had  been  married  most  five 
months;  which  was  very  nice,  for  a  baby  is  such  a 
comfort  and  twins  are  a  multiplication  table  of 
blessings.  And  Felix  Mendelssohn  is  yet  so  little  a 
person,  and  the  baby  of  Larry  and  Jean  is  growed 
more  big.  On  the  day  I  did  hear  him  say  to  her 
that  poetry  —  it  was  then  I  did  find  Felix  Mendels 
sohn  there  in  the  lane  near  to  them.  He  was  only  a 
wee  little  mouse  then.  And  every  week  that  he  did 
grow  a  more  week  old,  I  just  put  one  more  gray 
stone  in  the  row  of  his  growing.  And  there  was 
nineteen  more  gray  stones  in  the  row  when  the  An 
gels  did  bring  the  dear  baby  to  Larry  and  Jean  than 
there  was  stones  in  the  row  when  they  was  married. 
And  now  there  are  a  goodly  number  more  stones  in 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  19 

the  row  of  Felix  Mendelssohn's  weeks  of  growing  old . 
I  have  feels  that  there  will  be  friendship  between 
the  dear  mouse  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  the  dear 
baby  of  Larry  and  Jean.  For  by  the  stump  where 
he  did  say  that  poetry  to  her  was  the  abiding  place 
of  Felix  Mendelssohn  when  I  did  have  finding  of 
him.  This  eventime  he  did  snuggle  more  close  by 
my  curls.  I  have  so  much  likes  for  him.  I  did  tell 
him  that  this  night-time  he  is  to  have  sleeps  close 
by.  When  we  were  gone  a  little  way,  I  did  turn 
again  to  wave  good-bye  to  the  baby  of  Larry  and 
Jean. 

After  I  waved  good-bye  to  the  dear  baby,  I 
thought  I  'd  go  around  by  the  lane  where  I  first  saw 
them  and  heard  him  say  to  her  that  poetry.  It  is 
such  a  lovely  lane.  I  call  it  our  lane.  Of  course,  it 
does  n't  belong  to  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Por- 
sena  of  Clusium  and  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  and  I  and  all  the  rest  of  us.  It  belongs  to  a 
big  man  that  lives  in  a  big  house,  but  it  is  our  lane 
more  than  it  is  his  lane,  because  he  does  n't  know 
the  grass  and  flowers  that  grow  there,  and  the  birds 
that  nest  there,  and  the  lizards  that  run  along  the 
fence,  and  the  caterpillars  and  beetles  that  go 
walking  along  the  roads  made  by  the  wagon  wheels. 
And  he  does  n't  stop  to  talk  to  the  trees  that  grow 
all  along  the  lane. 

All  those  trees  are  my  friends.  I  call  them  by 
names  I  have  given  to  them.  I  call  them  Hugh 
Capet  and  Saint  Louis  and  Good  King  Edward  I ; 


20  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

and  the  tallest  one  of  all  is  Charlemagne,  and  the 
one  around  where  the  little  flowers  talk  most  is 
William  Wordsworth,  and  there  are  Byron  and 
Keats  and  Shelley.  When  I  go  straight  for  the  milk, 
I  do  so  like  to  come  around  this  way  by  the  lane 
and  talk  to  these  tree  friends.  I  stopped  to-night 
to  give  to  each  a  word  of  greeting.  When  I  got  to 
the  end  of  the  lane,  I  climbed  the  gate  and  thought 
I  had  better  hurry  straight  on  to  get  the  milk. 

When  I  went  by  the  barn,  I  saw  a  mouse  run 
around  the  corner  and  a  graceful  bat  came  near 
unto  the  barn-door.  I  got  the  milk.  It  was  near 
dark  time,  so  I  came  again  home  by  the  lane  and 
along  the  corduroy  road.  When  I  got  most  home,  I 
happened  to  remember  the  mamma  wanted  the 
milk  in  a  hurry,  so  I  began  to  hurry. 

I  don't  think  I  '11  print  more  to-night.  I  printed 
this  sitting  on  the  wood-box,  where  the  mamma  put 
me  after  she  spanked  me  after  I  got  home  with  the 
milk.  Now  I  think  I  shall  go  out  the  bedroom  win 
dow  and  talk  to  the  stars.  They  always  smile  so 
friendly.  This  is  a  very  wonderful  world  to  live  in. 


CHAPTER  IV 

How  Peter  Paul  Rubens  Goes  to  School. 

IN  the  morning  of  to-day,  when  I  was  come  part 
way  to  school,  when  I  was  come  to  the  ending  of 
the  lane,  I  met  a  glad  surprise.  There  was  my  dear 
pet  pig  awaiting  for  me.  I  gave  him  three  joy  pats 
on  the  nose,  and  I  did  call  him  by  name  ten  times. 
I  was  so  glad  to  see  him.  Being  as  I  got  a  late 
start  to  school,  I  did  n't  have  enough  time  to  go 
around  by  the  pig-pen  for  our  morning  talk.  And 
there  he  was  awaiting  for  me,  at  the  ending  of  the 
lane.  And  his  name  it  is  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  His 
name  is  that  because  the  first  day  I  saw  him  was 
on  the  twenty-ninth  of  June.  He  was  little  then  — 
a  very  plump  young  pig  with  a  little  red  ribbon 
squeal  and  a  wanting  to  go  everywhere  I  did  go. 
Sometimes  he  would  squeal  and  I  would  n't  go  to 
find  out  what  he  wanted.  Then  one  day,  when  his 
nose  was  sore,  he  did  give  such  an  odd  pain  squeal. 
Of  course  I  run  a  quick  run  to  help  him.  After 
that,  when  he  had  a  chance  he  would  come  to  the 
kitchen  door  and  give  that  same  squeal.  That 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  seemed  to  know  that  was  the 
only  one  of  all  his  squeals  that  would  bring  me  at 
once  to  where  he  was. 

And  this  morning,  when  I  did  start  on  to  school, 


22  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

he  gave  that  same  squeal  and  came  a-following 
after.  When  he  was  caught  up  with  me  he  gave  a 
grunt,  and  then  he  gave  his  little  red  ribbon  squeal. 
A  lump  came  up  in  my  throat  and  I  could  n't  tell 
him  to  turn  around  and  go  back  to  the  pig-pen. 
So  we  just  went  along  to  school  together. 

When  we  got  there  school  was  already  took  up.  I 
went  in  first.  The  new  teacher  came  back  to  tell 
me  I  was  tardy  again.  She  did  look  out  the  door. 
She  saw  my  dear  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  She  did  ask 
me  where  that  pig  came  from.  I  just  started  in  to 
tell  her  all  about  him,  from  the  day  I  first  met  him. 
She  did  look  long  looks  at  me.  She  did  look  those 
looks  for  a  long  time.  I  made  pleats  in  my  apron 
with  my  fingers.  I  made  nine  on  one  side  and  three 
on  the  other  side.  When  I  was  through  counting 
the  pleats  I  did  make  in  my  apron,  I  did  ask  her 
what  she  was  looking  those  long  looks  at  me  for. 
She  said,  "I'm  screwtineyesing  you."  I  never  did 
hear  that  word  before.  It  is  a  new  word.  It  does 
have  an  interest  sound.  I  think  I  will  have  uses  for 
it.  Now  when  I  look  long  looks  at  a  thing  I  will 
print  I  did  screwtineyes  it. 

After  she  did  look  more  long  looks  at  me,  she 
went  back  to  her  desk  by  the  blackboard.  She  did 
call  the  sixth  grade  fiziologie  class.  I  went  to  my 
seat.  I  only  sat  half  way  in  it.  I  so  did  so  I  would 
have  seeing  of  my  dear  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  He  did 
wait  at  the  steps.  He  looked  long  looks  toward  the 
door.  It  was  n't  long  until  he  walked  right  in.  I 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  23 

felt  such  an  amount  of  satisfaction  having  him  at 
school.  Teacher  felt  not  so.  Now  I  have  wonders 
about  things.  I  wonder  why  was  it  teacher  did  n't 
want  Peter  Paul  Rubens  coming  to  school.  Why, 
he  did  make  such  a  sweet  picture  as  he  did  stand 
there  in  the  doorway  looking  looks  about.  And  the 
grunts  he  gave,  they  were  such  nice  ones.  He  stood 
there  saying:  "I  have  come  to  your  school.  What 
class  are  you  going  to  put  me  in?"  He  said  in  plain 
grunts  the  very  same  words  I  did  say  the  first  day 
I  came  to  school.  The  children  all  turned  around 
in  their  seats.  I'm  sure  they  were  glad  he  was 
come  to  school  —  and  him  talking  there  in  that  dear 
way.  But  I  guess  our  teacher  does  n't  have  under 
standing  of  pig-talk.  She  just  came  at  him  in  such 
a  hurry  with  a  stick  of  wood.  And  when  I  made 
interferes,  she  did  send  us  both  home  in  a  quick 
way. 

We  did  have  a  most  happy  time  coming  home. 
We  did  go  on  an  exploration  trip.  Before  we  were 
gone  far,  we  did  have  hungry  feels.  I  took  the  lid 
off  the  lard-bucket  that  my  school  lunch  was  in. 
I  did  make  divides  of  all  my  bread  and  butter. 
Part  I  gave  to  Peter  Paul  Rubens  and  he  did  have 
appreciations.  He  did  grunt  grunts  for  some  more. 
Pretty  soon  it  was  all  gone.  We  did  go  on.  We 
went  on  to  the  woods.  I  did  dig  up  little  plants 
with  leaves  that  do  stay  green  all  winter.  We  saw 
many  beautiful  things.  Most  everything  we  did 
see  I  did  explain  about  it  to  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  I 


24  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

told  him  why  —  all  about  why  I  was  digging  up  so 
many  of  the  little  plants.  I  did  want  him  to  have 
understanding  that  I  was  going  to  plant  them  again. 
When  I  did  have  almost  forty-five,  and  it  was  come 
near  eventime,  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium  did  come  to  meet  us.  When  I  did  have 
forty-five  plants,  we  all  did  go  in  the  way  that  does 
lead  to  the  cathedral,  for  this  is  the  horning  day  of 
Girolamo  Savonarola.  And  in  the  cathedral  I  did 
plant  little  plants  as  many  years  as  he  was  old. 
Forty-five  I  did  so  plant.  And  we  had  prayers  and 
came  home. 


CHAPTER  V 

How  Opal  Comforted  Aphrodite,  and  how  the  Fairies  Comforted 
Opal  when  there  Was  Much  Sadness  at  School. 

APHRODITE  has  got  a  nice  blue  ribbon  all  her 
very  own,  to  wear  when  we  go  walking  down  the 
lane  and  to  services  in  the  cathedral.  The  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  give  to 
Sadie  McKibben  the  money  to  buy  it  last  time  she 
went  to  the  mill  town.  That  was  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  before  yesterday.  On  yesterday,  when  I  was 
coming  my  way  home  from  school,  I  did  meet  with 
Sadie  McKibben.  It  was  nice  to  see  her  freckles 
and  the  smiles  in  her  eyes.  She  did  have  me  to  shut 
my  eyes,  and  she  did  lay  in  my  hand  the  new  blue 
ribbon  for  Aphrodite  that  the  man  that  wears  gray 
neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  have  her  to  get.  I 
felt  glad  feels  all  over.  I  gave  her  all  our  thanks.  I 
did  have  knowing  all  my  animal  friends  would  be 
glad  for  the  remembers  of  the  needs  of  Aphrodite, 
for  a  blue  ribbon. 

I  did  have  beginnings  of  hurry  feels  to  go  to  the 
pig-pen.  I  have  thinks  Sadie  McKibben  saw  the 
hurrys  in  my  eyes.  She  said  she  would  like  to  go 
hurrys  to  the  pig-pen  too,  but  she  was  on  her  way 
to  the  house  of  Mrs.  Limberger.  She  did  kiss  me 
good-bye  —  two  on  the  cheeks  and  one  on  the  nose. 


26  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  run  a  quick  run  to  the  pig-pen  to  show  it  to 
Aphrodite.  I  gave  her  little  pats  on  the  nose  and 
long  rubs  on  the  ears,  and  I  did  tell  her  all  about 
it.  I  did  hold  it  close  to  her  eyes  so  she  could  have 
well  seeing  of  its  beautiful  blues  like  the  blues  of 
the  sky.  She  did  grunt  thank  grunts,  and  she  had 
wants  to  go  for  a  walk  right  away.  I  did  make  in 
vest  tag  ashuns  where  there  used  to  be  a  weak 
place  in  the  pig-pen.  It  was  not  any  more.  I  did 
look  close  looks  at  it.  I  made  pulls,  but  nothing 
made  little  slips.  Before  it  was  not  like  that. 
I  have  thinks  that  chore  boy  is  giving  too  much  at 
ten  chuns  to  the  fence  of  this  pig-pen  that  Aphro 
dite  has  living  in  all  of  the  time  I  am  not  taking  her 
on  walks.  I  did  feel  some  sad  feels  when  I  could  not 
take  her  walking  down  the  lane  with  her  nice  new 
blue  ribbon  on.  While  I  did  feel  the  sad  feels  so,  I 
did  carry  bracken  ferns  to  make  her  a  nice  bed. 
It  brought  her  feels  of  where  we  were  going  for 
walks  where  the  bracken  ferns  grew. 

When  I  did  have  her  a  nice  bed  of  bracken  fern 
and  some  more  all  about  her,  I  went  goes  to  get  the 
other  folks.  Back  with  me  came  Brave  Horatius 
and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and  Thomas  Chat- 
terton  Jupiter  Zeus  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Vir 
gil  and  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand 
Conde.  When  we  were  all  come,  I  did  climb  into 
the  pig-pen  and  I  did  tie  on  Aphrodite's  new  ribbon 
so  they  all  might  have  seeing  of  its  blues  like  the 
sky.  I  sang  a  little  thank  song,  and  we  had  prayers, 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  27 

and  I  gave  Aphrodite  little  scratches  on  the  back 
with  a  little  stick,  like  she  does  so  like  to  have  me 
do.  That  was  to  make  up  for  her  not  getting  to  go 
for  a  walk  where  the  bracken  ferns  grow. 

Now  teacher  is  looking  very  straight  looks  at 
me.  She  says,  "Opal,  put  that  away."  I  so  do. 

To-day  it  is  I  do  sit  here  at  my  desk  while  the 
children  are  out  for  play  for  recess-time.  I  sit  here 
and  I  do  print.  I  cannot  have  goings  to  talk  with 
the  trees  that  I  do  mostly  have  talks  with  at  recess- 
time.  I  cannot  have  goings  down  to  the  riviere 
across  the  road,  like  I  do  so  go  sometimes  at  recess- 
time.  I  sit  here  in  my  seat.  Teacher  says  I  must 
stay  in  all  this  whole  recess-time. 

It  was  after  some  of  our  reading  lessons  this 
morning  —  it  was  then  teacher  did  ask  questions  of 
all  the  school.  First  she  asked  Jimmy  eight  things 
at  once.  She  did  ask  him  what  is  a  horse  and  a 
donkey  and  a  squirrel  and  a  engine  and  a  road  and 
a  snake  and  a  store  and  a  rat.  And  he  did  tell  her 
all.  He  did  tell  her  in  his  way.  They  she  asked  Big 
Jud  some  things,  and  he  got  up  in  a  slow  way  and 
said,  "I  don't  know,"  —  like  he  most  always  does, 
—  and  he  sat  down.  Then  she  asked  Lola  some 
things,  and  Lola  did  tell  her  all  in  one  breath.  And 
teacher  marked  her  a  good  mark  in  the  book  and 
she  gave  Lola  a  smile.  And  Lola  gave  her  nice  red 
hair  a  smooth  back  and  smiled  a  smile  back  at 
teacher. 


28  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Then  it  was  teacher  did  call  my  name.  I  stood  up 
real  quick.  I  did  have  thinks  it  would  be  nice  to  get 
a  smile  from  her  like  the  smile  she  did  smile  upon 
Lola.  And  teacher  did  ask  me  eight  things  at  once. 
She  did  ask  me  what  is  a  pig  and  a  mouse  and  a 
baby  deer  and  a  duck  and  a  turkey  and  a  fish  and 
a  colt  and  a  blackbird.  And  I  did  say  in  a  real 
quick  way,  "  A  pig  is  a  cochon  and  a  mouse  is  a  mu- 
lot  and  a  baby  deer  is  a  daine  and  a  duck  is  a  canard 
and  a  turkey  is  a  dindon  and  a  fish  is  a  poisson 
and  a  colt  is  a  poulain  and  a  blackbird  is  a  merle." 
And  after  each  one  I  did  say,  teacher  did  shake  her 
head  and  say,  "It  is  not";  and  I  did  say,  "It  is." 

When  I  was  all  through,  she  did  say,  "You  have 
them  all  wrong.  You  have  not  told  what  they  are. 
They  are  not  what  you  said  they  are."  And  when 
she  said  that  I  did  just  say,  "They  are  —  they  are 
—  they  are." 

Teacher  said,  "Opal,  you  sit  down."  I  so  did. 
But  when  I  sat  down  I  said,  "A  pig  is  a  cochon  — 
a  mouse  is  a  mulot  —  a  baby  deer  is  a  daine  —  a 
duck  is  a  canard  —  a  turkey  is  a  dindon  —  a  fish  is 
a  poisson  —  a  colt  is  a  poulain  —  a  blackbird  is  a 
merle."  Teacher  says,  "Opal,  for  that  you  are 
going  to  stay  in  next  recess  and  both  recess-times 
to-morrow  and  the  next  day  and  the  next  day." 
Then  she  did  look  a  look  at  all  the  school,  and  she 
did  say  as  how  my  not  getting  to  go  out  for  recess- 
times  would  be  an  egg  sam  pull  for  all  the  other 
children  in  our  school. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  ,  29 

They  are  out  at  play.  It  is  a  most  long  recess,  but 
I  do  know  a  pig  is  a  cochon,  and  a  mouse  is  a  mulot 
and  a  baby  deer  is  a  daine  and  a  duck  is  a  canard 
and  a  turkey  is  a  dindon  and  a  fish  is  a  poisson 
and  a  colt  is  a  poulain  and  a  blackbird  is  a  merle. 
So  I  do  know,  for  Angel  Father  always  did  call 
them  so.  He  knows.  He  knows  what  things  are. 
But  no  one  hereabouts  does  call  things  by  the 
names  Angel  Father  did.  Sometimes  I  do  have 
thinks  this  world  is  a  different  world  to  live  in.  I 
do  have  lonesome  feels. 

This  is  a  most  long  recess.  While  here  I  do  sit  I 
do  hear  the  talkings  of  the  more  big  girls  outside 
the  window  most  near  unto  my  desk.  The  children 
are  playing  Black  Man  and  the  ones  more  little  are 
playing  tag.  I  have  thinks  as  how  nice  it  would  be 
to  be  having  talks  with  Good  King  Edward  I  and 
lovely  Queen  Eleanor  of  Castile  and  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  and  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium  and  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and 
Aphrodite.  And  I  do  think  this  is  a  most  long 
recess. 

I  still  do  have  hearings  of  the  talkings  of  the 
girls  outside  the  windows.  The  more  old  girls  are 
talking  what  they  want.  Martha  says  she  wants  a 
bow.  I  don't  have  seeings  why  she  wants  another 
one.  Both  her  braids  were  tied  back  this  morning- 
time  with  a  new  bow,  and  its  color  was  the  color 
of  the  blossoms  of  camarine.  Lola  says  she  wants 
a  white  silk  dress.  She  says  her  life  will  be  complete 


30  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

when  she  does  have  on  a  white  silk  dress  —  a  white 
silk  dress  with  a  little  ruffle  around  the  neck  and 
one  around  each  sleeve.  She  says  she  will  be  a 
great  lady  then;  and  she  says  all  the  children  will 
gather  around  her  and  sing  when  she  has  her  white 
silk  dress  on.  And  while  they  sing  and  while  she 
does  have  her  white  silk  dress  on,  she  will  stand  up 
and  stretch  out  her  arms  and  bestow  her  blessing  on 
all  the  people  like  the  deacon  does  in  the  church  at 
the  mill  town. 

Now  teacher  is  come  to  the  door.  She  does  say, 
"Opal,  you  may  eat  your  lunch  —  at  your  desk." 
I  did  have  hungry  feels  and  all  this  is  noon-time 
instead  of  short  recess-time.  It  so  has  been  a  long 
recess-time.  I  did  have  thinks  when  came  noon 
time  of  all  the  things  I  would  do  down  by  the 
riviere. 

Now  I  do  gather  seeds  along  the  road  and  in  the 
field.  I  lay  in  rows  side  by  side  the  seeds  I  gather. 
With  them  I  do  play  comparer.  I  look  near  looks  at 
them.  I  do  so  to  see  how  they  look  not  like  one 
another.  Some  are  big  and  some  are  not  so.  And 
some  are  more  large  than  others  are  large.  And 
some  do  have  wrinkles  on  them.  And  some  have 
little  wings  and  some  do  have  silken  sails.  Many 
so  of  all  I  did  see  on  my  way  coming  home  from 
school  on  this  eventime,  and  too  I  did  see  four  gray 
squirrels  and  two  chipmunks;  and  when  I  was  come 
near  the  meeting  of  the  roads  I  saw  a  tramper 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  31 

coming  down  the  railroad  track  where  the  dinky 
engine  comes  with  cars  of  lumbers  from  the  upper 
camps. 

This  tramper  —  he  did  have  a  big  roll  on  his 
back  and  he  walked  steps  on  the  ties  in  a  slow  tired 
way.  When  I  was  come  more  near  to  the  track,  I 
did  have  thinks  he  might  have  hungry  feels.  Most 
trampers  do.  While  I  was  having  thinks  about  it, 
I  took  the  lid  off  my  dinner-pail.  There  was  just  a 
half  a  piece  of  bread  and  butter  left.  I  was  saving 
that.  I  was  saving  it  to  make  divides  between 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  and  Aphrodite  and  Felix  Men 
delssohn  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  and  the 
rest  of  us.  I  did  look  looks  from  that  piece  of  bread 
and  butter  in  the  dinner-pail  to  the  tramper  going 
down  the  railroad  track.  I  did  have  little  feels  of 
the  big  hungry  feels  he  might  be  having.  I  ran  a 
quick  run  to  catch  up  with  him. 

He  was  glad  for  it.  He  ate  it  in  two  bites,  and  I 
came  a  quick  way  to  our  lane.  I  went  along  it.  I 
made  a  stop  by  a  hazel  bush.  I  did  stop  to  watch  a 
caterpillar  making  his  cradle.  He  did  not  move 
about  while  he  did  make  it.  He  did  roll  himself  up 
in  a  leaf.  That  almost  hid  him.  He  did  weave  white 
silk  about  him.  I  think  it  must  be  an  interesting 
life  to  live  a  caterpillar  life.  Some  days  I  do  think  I 
would  like  to  be  a  caterpillar  and  by-and-by  make 
a  silk  cradle.  The  silk  a  caterpillar  makes  its  cradle 
from  does  come  from  its  mouth.  I  have  seen  it  so. 
But  not  so  have  I  seen  come  the  silk  the  spider  does 


32  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

make  its  web  of.  This  silk  does  come  from  the  back 
part  of  the  back  of  the  spider. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  house  we  live  in,  I  did 
do  the  works  the  mamma  did  have  for  me  to  do. 
Then  I  made  begins  to  fill  the  wood-box.  When  I 
did  have  ten  sticks  piled  on  its  top,  I  looked  to  the 
door  where  the  mamma  was  talking  with  Elsie.  I 
did  have  sorry  feels  for  the  mamma.  I  heard  her 
say  she  lost  ten  minutes.  I  did  have  wants  to  help 
her  find  them.  I  looked  looks  under  the  cupboard, 
and  they  were  not  there.  I  looked  looks  in  the 
cook-table  drawers,  and  they  were  not  there.  I 
looked  looks  into  every  machine-that-sews  drawer, 
and  I  did  n't  find  them.  I  crawled  under  the  bed, 
but  I  had  no  seeing  of  them.  Then  I  did  look  looks 
in  all  the  corners  of  the  house  that  we  do  live  in. 
I  looked  looks  all  about.  But  I  did  n't  find  them. 
I  have  wonders  where  those  ten  minutes  the 
mamma  lost  are  gone.  While  I  did  look  more 
looks  about  for  them,  she  did  say  for  me  to  get  out 
of  her  way.  I  so  did. 

I  went  to  look  for  the  fairies.  I  went  to  the  near 
woods.  I  hid  behind  the  trees  and  made  little  runs 
to  big  logs.  I  walked  along  the  logs  and  I  went 
among  the  ferns.  I  did  tiptoe  among  the  ferns.  I 
looked  looks  about.  I  did  touch  fern-fronds  and  I 
did  have  feels  of  their  gentle  movements.  I  came 
to  a  big  root.  I  hid  in  it.  I  so  did  to  wait  waits  for 
the  fairies  that  come  among  the  big  trees. 

While  I  did  wait  waits,  I  did  have  thinks  about 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  33 

that  letter  I  did  write  on  the  other  day  for  more 
color  pencils  that  I  do  have  needs  of  to  print  with, 
I  thought  I  would  go  to  the  moss-box  by  the  old 
log.  I  thought  I  would  have  goes  there  to  see  if  the 
faires  yet  did  find  my  letter.  I  went.  The  letter  — 
it  was  gone.  Then  I  did  have  joy  feels  all  over. 
The  color  pencils  —  they  were  come.  There  was  a 
blue  one  and  a  green  one  and  a  yellow  one.  And 
there  was  a  purple  one  and  a  brown  one  and  a  red 
one.  I  did  look  looks  at  them  a  long  time.  It  was  so 
nice,  the  quick  way  the  fairies  did  bring  them. 

While  I  was  looking  more  looks  at  them,  some 
one  did  come  near  the  old  root.  It  was  my  dear 
friend  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  I  gave  him  four  pats 
and  I  showed  him  all  the  color  pencils.  Then  I  did 
make  a  start;  to  go  to  the  mill  by  the  far  woods. 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  went  with  me  and  Brave 
Horatius  came  a-following  after.  All  the  way  along 
I  did  feel  glad  feels,  and  I  had  thinks  how  happy 
the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to 
mice  would  be  when  he  did  see  how  quick  the  fairies 
did  answer  my  letter  and  bring  the  color  pencils. 

When  we  were  come  near  the  mill  by  the  far 
woods,  it  was  near  gray-light-time.  The  lumber 
men  were  on  their  home  way.  They  did  whistle  as 
they  did  go.  Two  went  side  by  side,  and  three  came 
after.  And  one  came  after  all.  It  was  the  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice.  Brave 
Horatius  made  a  quick  run  to  meet  him,  and  I  did 
follow  after.  I  did  have  him  guess  what  it  was  the 


34  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

fairies  did  bring  this  time.  He  guessed  a  sugar- 
lump  for  William  Shakespeare  every  day  next  week. 
I  told  him  it  was  n't  a  right  guess.  He  guessed 
some  more.  But  he  could  n't  guess  right,  so  I 
showed  them  all  to  him. 

He  was  so  surprised.  He  said  he  was  so  surprised 
the  fairies  did  bring  them  this  soon.  And  he  was  so 
glad  about  it.  He  always  is.  He  and  I  —  we  do  have 
knows  the  fairies  walk  often  in  these  woods,  and 
when  I  do  have  needs  of  more  color  pencils  to  make 
more  prints  with,  I  do  write  the  fairies  about  it.  I 
write  to  them  a  little  letter  on  leaves  of  trees  and  I 
do  put  it  in  the  moss-box  at  the  end  of  the  old  log. 
Then,  after  they  do  come  walking  in  the  woods  and 
find  the  letter  in  the  moss-box,  they  do  bring  the 
color  pencils,  and  they  lay  them  in  the  moss-box. 
I  find  them  there  and  I  am  happy. 

No  one  does  have  knowing  of  that  moss-box  but 
one.  He  is  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is 
kind  to  mice.  He  has  knowings  of  the  letters  I  do 
print  on  leaves  and  put  there  for  the  fairies.  And 
after  he  does  ask  me,  and  after  I  do  tell  him  I  have 
wrote  to  them  for  color  pencils  that  I  have  needs 
of  —  he  does  take  a  little  fern  plant  and  make  a 
fern  wish  with  it  that  the  fairies  will  bring  to  me 
the  color  pencils  I  have  needs  of.  Then  we  do  plant 
the  little  fern  by  the  old  log.  And  the  time  is  not 
long  until  I  do  find  the  color  pencils  in  the  moss- 
box  by  the  old  log.  I  am  very  happy. 


CHAPTER  VI 

Opal  Gives  Wisdom  to  the  Potatoes,  Cleanliness  to  the  Family 
Clothes,  and  a  Delicate  Dinner  to  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus. 

TO-DAY  the  grandpa  dug  potatoes  in  the  field. 
Too,  the  chore  boy  did  dig  potatoes  in  the  field. 
I  followed  along  after.  My  work  was  to  pick  up  the 
potatoes  they  got  out  of  the  ground.  I  picked  them 
up  and  piled  them  in  piles.  Some  of  them  were  very 
plump.  Some  of  them  were  not  big.  All  of  them 
wore  brown  dresses.  When  they  were  in  piles,  I  did 
stop  to  take  looks  at  them.  I  walked  up  close.  I 
looked  them  all  over.  I  walked  off  and  took  a  long 
look  at  them.  Potatoes  are  very  interesting  folks. 
I  think  they  must  see  a  lot  of  what  is  going  on  in 
the  earth;  they  have  so  many  eyes.  And  after  I  did 
look  those  looks  as  I  did  go  along,  I  did  count  the 
eyes  that  every  potato  did  have,  and  their  num 
bers  were  in  blessings. 

To  some  piles  I  did  stop  to  give  geology  lectures, 
and  some  I  did  tell  about  the  nursery  and  the  cater 
pillars  in  it  —  the  caterpillars  that  are  going  to 
hiver  sleep  in  silken  cradles,  and  some  in  woolen  so 
go.  To  more  potatoes  I  did  tell  about  my  hospital 
at  St.-Germain-en-Laye  in  the  near  woods,  and 
all  about  the  folks  that  were  in  it  and  that  are  in  it, 


36  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

and  how  much  prayers  and  songs  and  mentholatum 
helps  them  to  have  well  feels. 

And  to  some  other  potatoes  I  did  talk  about 
my  friends  —  about  the  talks  that  William  Shake 
speare  and  I  do  have  together;  and  about  how  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium  does  have'  a  fondness  for  col 
lecting  things,  and  how  he  does  hide  them  in  the 
oak  tree  near  unto  the  house  we  live  in;  and  about 
Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  and  the  poetry  in  her 
tracks.  And  one  I  did  tell  about  the  new  ribbon 
Aphrodite  has  to  wear,  and  how  she  does  have  a 
fondness  for  chocolate  creams.  To  the  potato  most 
near  unto  it  I  did  tell  of  the  little  bell  that  Peter 
Paul  Rubens  does  wear  to  cathedral  service.  To 
the  one  next  to  it  I  did  tell  how  Louis  II,  le  Grand 
Conde,  is  a  mouse  of  gentle  ways,  and  how  he  does 
have  likings  to  ride  in  my  sleeve. 

And  all  the  times  I  was  picking  up  potatoes  I  did 
have  conversations  with  them.  Too,  I  did  have 
thinks  of  all  their  growing  days  there  in  the  ground, 
and  all  the  things  they  did  hear.  Earth-voices  are 
glad  voices,  and  earth-songs  come  up  from  the 
ground  through  the  plants;  and  in  their  flowering 
and  in  the  days  before  these  days  are  come,  they  do 
tell  the  earth-songs  to  the  wind.  And  the  wind  in 
her  goings  does  whisper  them  to  folks  to  print  for 
other  folks.  So  other  folks  do  have  knowing  of 
earth's  songs.  When  I  grow  up  I  am  going  to  write 
for  children  —  and  grown-ups  that  have  n't  grown 
up  too  much  —  all  the  earth-songs  I  now  do  hear. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  37 

I  have  thinks  these  potatoes  growing  here  did 
have  knowings  of  star-songs.  I  have  kept  watch  in 
the  field  at  night  and  I  have  seen  the  stars  look 
kindness  down  upon  them.  And  I  have  walked  be 
tween  the  rows  of  potatoes,  and  I  have  watched  the 
star-gleams  on  their  leaves.  And  I  have  heard  the 
wind  ask  of  them  the  star-songs  the  star-gleams 
did  tell  in  shadows  on  their  leaves.  And  as  the 
wind  did  go  walking  in  the  field  talking  to  the 
earth-voices  there,  I  did  follow  her  down  the  rows. 
I  did  have  feels  of  her  presence  near.  And  her 
goings  by  made  ripples  on  my  nightgown.  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  did  cuddle  more  close  up 
in  my  arms.  And  Brave  Horatius  followed  after. 

Sometimes,  when  a  time  long  it  is  I  have  been 
walking  and  listening  to  the  voices  of  the  night, 
then  it  is  Brave  Horatius  does  catch  the  corner  of 
my  nightgown  in  his  mouth  and  he  pulls  —  he  pulls 
most  hard  in  the  way  that  does  go  to  the  house  we 
live  in.  After  he  does  pull,  he  barks  the  barks  he 
always  does  bark  when  he  has  thinks  it  is  home- 
going  time.  I  listen.  Sometimes  I  go  back.  He 
goes  with  me.  Sometimes  I  go  on.  He  goes  with 
me.  And  often  it  is  he  is  here  come  with  me  to  this 
field  where  the  potatoes  grow.  And  he  knows  most 
all  the  poetry  I  have  told  them. 

On  the  afternoon  of  to-day,  when  I  did  have  a 
goodly  number  of  potatoes  in  piles,  I  did  have 
thinks  as  how  this  was  the  going-away  day  of  Saint 
Francois  of  Assisi  and  the  borning  day  of  Jean 


38  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

Francois  Millet;  so  I  did  take  as  many  potatoes 
as  they  years  did  dwell  upon  earth.  Forty-four 
potatoes  I  so  took  for  Saint  Francois  of  Assisi,  for 
his  years  were  near  unto  forty-four.  Sixty  potatoes 
I  so  took  for  Jean  Francois  Millet,  for  his  years 
were  sixty  years.  All  these  potatoes  I  did  lay  in 
two  rows.  In  one  row  was  forty-four  and  in  the 
other  row  was  sixty. 

And  as  I  had  seeing  of  them  all  there,  I  did  have 
thinks  to  have  a  choir.  First  I  did  sing,  "Sanctus, 
sanctus,  sanctus,  Dominus  Deus."  After  I  did  sing 
it  three  times,  I  did  have  thinks  as  how  it  would  be 
nice  to  have  more  in  the  choir.  And  I  did  have 
remembers  as  how  to-morrow  is  the  going-away 
day  of  Philippe  III,  roi  de  France;  and  so  for  the 
forty  years  that  were  his  years  I  did  bring  forty 
more  potatoes  in  a  row.  That  made  more  in  the 
choir.  Then  I  did  sing  three  times  over,  "Gloria 
Patri,  et  Filio,  et  Spiritu  Sancto.  Hosanna  in 
excelsis."  Before  I  did  get  all  through  the  last  time 
with  Hosanna  in  excelsis,  I  did  have  thinks  as  how 
the  next  day  after  that  day  would  be  the  borning 
day  of  Louis  Philippe,  roi  de  France,  and  the  going- 
away  day  of  Alfred  Tennyson.  And  I  did  bring 
more  potatoes  for  the  choir.  Seventy-six  I  did  so 
bring  for  the  years  that  were  the  years  of  Louis 
Philippe,  roi  de  France.  Eighty-three  I  so  did 
bring  for  the  years  that  were  the  years  of  Alfred 
Tennyson.  And  the  choir  —  there  was  a  goodly 
number  of  folks  in  it  —  all  potato  folks  wearing 
brown  robes.  Then  I  did  sing  one  "  Ave  Maria." 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  39 

I  was  going  to  sing  one  more,  when  I  did  have 
thinks  as  how  the  next  day  after  the  next  day  after 
the  next  day  would  be  the  going-away  day  of  Sir 
Philip  Sidney;  so  I  did  bring  thirty-one  more  pota 
toes  for  the  choir.  It  did  take  a  more  long  time  to 
bring  them,  because  all  the  potatoes  near  about 
were  already  in  the  choir.  Brave  Horatius  did 
walk  by  my  side,  and  he  did  have  seeing  as  how  I 
was  bringing  potatoes  to  the  choir.  And  so  he  did 
bring  some  —  one  at  a  time  he  did  pick  them  up 
and  bring  them,  just  like  he  does  pick  up  a  stick  of 
wood  in  his  mouth  when  I  am  carrying  in  wood. 
He  is  a  most  helpful  dog.  To-day  I  did  have  needs 
to  keep  watches.  I  did  so  have  needs  to  see  that 
he  put  not  more  potatoes  in  the  other  choir-rows. 
First  time  he  did  bring  a  potato,  he  did  lay  it  down 
by  the  choir-row  of  Alfred  Tennyson.  Next  potato 
he  did  bring  he  did  lay  it  by  the  choirr-row  of  Jean 
Francois  Millet.  Next  time  I  made  a  quick  run 
when  I  did  have  seeing  of  him  going  to  lay  it  down 
by  the  choir-row  of  Philippe  III,  roi  de  France.  I 
did  pat  my  foot  and  tell  him  where  to  lay  it  for  the 
choir-row  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney.  He  so  did.  We  did 
go  for  more. 

When  there  were  thirty-one  potatoes  in  the 
choir-row  of  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  we  did  start  service 
again.  I  did  begin  with  "Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanctus, 
Dominus  Deus."  And  Brave  Horatius  did  bark 
Amen.  Then  I  did  begin  all  over,  and  he  did  so 
again.  After  we  had  prayers,  I  did  sing  one  more 


40  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

"Ave  Maria."  Then  I  did  begin  to  sing  "Deo 
Gratias,  Hosanna  in  excelsis,"  but  I  came  not 
unto  its  ending.  Brave  Horatius  did  bark  Amen 
before  I  was  half  done.  I  just  went  on.  He  walked 
in  front  of  me  and  did  bark  Amen  three  times. 

I  was  just  going  to  sing  the  all  of  it.  I  did  not  so. 
I  so  did  not  because  the  chore  boy  did  have  steps 
behind  me.  He  gave  me  three  shoulder-shakes, 
and  he  did  tell  me  to  get  a  hurry  on  me  and  get 
those  potatoes  picked  up.  I  so  did.  I  so  did  in  a 
most  quick  way.  The  time  it  did  take  to  pick  them 
up  —  it  was  not  a  long  time.  And  after  that  there 
was  more  potatoes  to  pick  up.  Brave  Horatius  did 
follow  after.  He  gave  helps.  He  did  lay  the  pota 
toes  he  did  pick  up  on  the  piles  I  did  pick  up.  He  is 
a  most  good  dog.  When  near  gray-light-time  was 
come,  the  chore  boy  went  from  the  field.  When 
most-dark-time  was  come  Brave  Horatius  and  I  so 
went.  When  we  were  come  to  the  house  we  live  in, 
the  folks  was  gone  to  visit  at  the  house  of  Elsie.  I 
did  take  my  bowl  of  bread  and  milk,  and  I  did  eat 
it  on  the  back  steps.  Brave  Horatius  ate  his  supper 
near  me.  He  did  eat  his  all  long  before  I  did  mine. 
So  I  did  give  him  some  of  mine.  Then  we  watched 
the  stars  come  out. 

I  did  not  have  goings  to  school  to-day,  for  this  is 
wash-day  and  the  mamma  did  have  needs  of  me  at 
home.  There  was  baby  clothes  to  wash.  The  mamma 
does  say  that  is  my  work,  and  I  do  try  to  do  it  in 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  41 

the  proper  way  she  does  say  it  ought  to  be  done. 
It  does  take  quite  a  long  time,  and  all  the  time  it  is 
taking  I  do  have  longings  to  go  on  exploration 
trips.  And  I  do  want  to  go  talk  with  William 
Shakespeare  there  where  he  is  pulling  logs  in  the 
near  woods.  And  I  do  want  to  go  talk  with  Eliza 
beth  Barrett  Browning  in  the  pasture,  and  with 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  and  Aphrodite  in  the  pig-pens. 
All  the  time  it  does  take  to  wash  the  clothes  of  the 
baby  —  it  is  a  long  time.  And  I  do  stop  at  in- 
between  times  to  listen  to  the  voices.  They  are 
always  talking.  And  the  brook  that  does  go  by  our 
house  is  always  bringing  songs  from  the  hills. 

When  the  clothes  of  the  baby  were  most  white,  I 
did  bring  them  again  to  the  wash-bench  that  does 
set  on  the  porch  that  does  go  out  from  our  back 
door.  Then  there  was  the  chickens  to  feed,  and  the 
stockings  were  to  rub.  Stockings  do  have  needs  of 
many  rubs.  That  makes  them  clean.  While  I  did 
do  the  rubs,  I  did  sing  little  songs  to  the  grasses 
that  grow  about  our  door.  After  the  stockings  did 
have  many  rubs,  the  baby  it  was  to  tend.  I  did 
sing  it  songs  of  songs  Angel  Mother  did  sing  to  me. 
And  sleeps  came  upon  the  baby.  But  she  is  a  baby 
that  does  have  wake-ups  between  times.  To-day 
she  had  a  goodly  number. 

By-and-by,  when  the  washing  was  part  done, 
then  the  mamma  went  away  to  the  grandma's 
house  to  get  some  soap.  When  she  went  away  she 
did  say  she  wished  she  did  n't  have  to  bother  with 


42  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

carrying  water  to  scrub  the  floor.  She  does  n't. 
While  she  has  been  gone  a  good  while,  I  have  plenty 
of  water  on  the  floor  for  her  to  mop  it  when  she  gets 
back.  When  she  did  go  away,  she  said  to  me  to 
wring  the  clothes  out  of  the  wash.  There  were  a  lot 
of  clothes  in  the  wash  —  skirts  and  aprons  and 
shirts  and  dresses  and  clothes  that  you  wear  under 
dresses.  Every  bit  of  clothes  I  took  out  of  the  tubs 
I  carried  into  the  kitchen  and  squeezed  all  the 
water  out  on  the  kitchen  floor.  That  makes  lots  of 
water  everywhere  —  under  the  cook-table  and 
under  the  cupboard  and  under  the  stove.  Why, 
there  is  most  enough  water  to  mop  the  three  floors, 
and  then  some  water  would  be  left  over.  I  did  feel 
glad  feels  because  it  was  so  as  the  mamma  did 
want  it. 

While  I  did  wait  for  her  coming,  I  did  make 
prints  and  mind  the  baby.  When  the  mamma  was 
come,  she  did  look  not  glad  looks  at  the  water  on 
the  floor.  She  did  only  look  looks  for  the  switches 
over  the  kitchen  window.  After  I  did  have  many 
sore  feels,  she  put  me  out  the  door  to  stay  out.  I 
did  have  sorry  feels  for  her.  I  did  so  try  hard  to 
be  helps. 

When  a  little  way  I  was  gone  from  the  door,  I  did 
look  looks  about.  I  saw  brown  leaves  and  brown 
birds.  Brown  leaves  were  erable  leaves  and  chene 
leaves,  and  the  brown  birds  were  wrens.  And  all 
their  ways  were  hurry  ways.  I  did  turn  about  and 
I  did  go  in  a  hurry  way  to  a  root  in  the  near  woods. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  43 

I  so  went  to  get  my  little  candle.  Then  I  did  go  to 
the  Jardin  des  Tuileries.  Often  it  is  I  do  go  there 
near  unto  the  near  woods.  Many  days  after  I  was 
here  come,  I  did  go  ways  to  look  for  Jardin  des 
Tuileries.  I  found  it  not.  Sadie  McKibben  did  say 
there  is  none  such  here.  Then  being  needs  for  it  and 
it  being  not,  I  did  have  it  so.  And  in  it  I  have  put 
statues  of  hiver  and  all  the  others,  and  here  I  do 
plant  plants  and  little  trees.  And  every  little  tree 
that  I  did  plant  it  was  for  someone  that  was.  And 
on  their  borning  days  I  do  hold  services  by  the 
trees  I  have  so  planted  for  them. 

To-day  I  did  go  in  quick  steps  to  the  tree  I  have 
planted  for  Louis  Philippe,  roi  de  France,  for  this  is 
the  day  of  his  borning  in  1773.  I  did  have  prayers. 
Then  I  did  light  my  little  candle.  Seventy-six  big 
candles  Angel  Father  did  so  light  for  him,  but  so 
I  cannot  do,  for  only  one  little  candle  I  have.  It 
did  burn  in  a  bright  way.  Then  I  did  sing  "Deo 
Gratias."  I  so  did  sing  for  the  borning  day  of  Louis 
Philippe,  roi  de  France.  Then  I  did  sing  "  Sanctus, 
sanctus,  sanctus,  Dominus  Deus." 

Afterwards  I  did  have  thinks  about  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  —  about  his  nose,  its  feels. 
I  so  went  in  the  way  that  does  go  to  the  hospital. 
That  dear  pet  rat's  nose  is  getting  well.  Some  way 
he  got  his  nose  too  near  that  trap  they  set  for  rats 
in  the  barn.  Of  course,  when  I  found  him  that 
morning  I  let  him  right  out  of  the  trap.  He  has  a 
ward  all  to  himself  in  the  hospital.  For  breakfast 


44  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

he  has  some  of  my  oatmeal.  For  dinner  he  has  some 
of  my  dinner.  And  for  supper  I  carry  to  him  corn 
in  a  jar  lid.  Sadie  McKibben,  who  has  on  her  face 
many  freckles  and  a  kind  heart,  gives  me  enough 
mentholatum  to  put  on  his  nose  seven  times  a  day. 
And  he  is  growing  better.  And  to-day  when  I  was 
come  to  the  hospital,  I  took  him  in  my  arms.  He 
did  cuddle  up. 

Too,  he  gave  his  cheese  squeak.  That  made  me 
have  lonesome  feels.  I  can't  carry  cheese  to  him 
any  more  out  of  the  house  we  live  in.  I  can't  be 
cause,  when  the  mamma  learned  that  I  was  carry 
ing  cheese  to  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus,  she 
said  to  me  while  she  did  apply  a  kindling  to  the  back 
part  of  me :  "  Don't  you  dare  carry  any  more  cheese 
out  to  that  rat."  And  since  then  I  do  not  carry 
cheese  out  to  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus,  but 
I  do  carry  him  into  the  kitchen  to  the  cheese.  I  let 
him  sniff  long  sniffs  at  it.  Then  I  push  his  nose 
back  and  I  cut  from  the  big  piece  of  cheese  delicate 
slices  for  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  This  I 
do  when  the  mamma  is  n't  at  home. 

To-day,  she  being  come  again  to  the  house  we 
live  in,  I  could  not  have  goings  there  for  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  to  the  cheese.  I  did  go  the 
way  that  goes  to  the  house  of  Sadie  McKibben.  I 
did  go  that  way  so  she  might  have  knowings  of  the 
nose-improvements  of  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus.  When  I  was  most  come  here  he  did  squeak 
more  of  his  cheese  squeaks.  It  was  most  hard  — 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  45 

having  hearing  of  him  and  not  having  cheese  for 
him.  I  could  hardly  keep  from  crying.  He  is  a 
most  lovely  wood-rat,  and  all  his  ways  are  ways  of 
gentleness.  And  he  is  just  like  the  mamma's  baby 
—  when  he  squeaks  he  does  have  expects  to  get 
what  he  squeaks  for.  I  did  cuddle  him  up  more 
close  in  my  arms.  And  he  had  not  squeaks  again 
for  some  little  time.  It  was  when  I  was  talking  to 
Sadie  McKibben  about  the  chateau  of  Neuilly  that 
I  do  have  most  part  done  —  it  was  then  he  did  give 
his  squeaks.  He  began  and  went  ou  and  did  con 
tinue  so.  I  just  could  n't  keep  from  crying.  His 
cheese  longings  are  like  my  longings  for  Angel 
Mother  and  Angel  Father.  He  did  just  crawl  up 
and  put  his  nose  against  my  curls.  I  did  stand  first 
on  one  foot  and  then  on  the  other.  The  things  I  was 
going  to  say  did  go  in  a  swallow  down  my  throat. 
Sadie  McKibben  did  wipe  her  hands  on  her  blue 
gingham  apron  with  cross  stitches  on  it.  She  did 
have  askings  what  was  the  matter  with  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  And  I  just  said,  "O 
Sadie  McKibben,  it's  his  cheese  squeak."  And  she 
said  not  a  word,  but  she  did  go  in  a  quick  way  to 
her  kitchen.  She  brought  back  a  piece  of  cheese. 
It  was  n't  a  little  piece.  It  was  a  great  big  piece. 
There's  enough  in  it  for  four  breakfasts  and  six 
dinners.  When  Sadie  McKibben  did  give  it  to  me 
for  him,  she  did  smooth  back  my  curls  and  she  did 
give  me  three  kisses  —  one  on  each  cheek  and  one 
on  the  nose.  She  smiled  her  smile  upon  us,  and  we 


46  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

were  most  happy,  and  we  did  go  from  her  house 
to  the  cathedral.  There  I  did  have  a  thank  service 
for  the  goodness  of  God  and  the  goodness  of  Sadie 
McKibben,  and  the  piece  of  cheese  that  did  bring 
peace  to  the  lovely  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  Adventure  of  the  Tramper;  and  what  Happens  on  Long 
and  on  Short  Days. 

TO-DAY  was  a  fall-time-is-here  day.  I  heard  the 
men  say  so  that  were  talking  at  the  meeting  of  the 
roads.  From  the  meeting  of  the  roads  I  did  hurry 
on.  I  so  did  in  a  quick  way  because,  when  I  was 
come  to  the  meeting  of  the  roads,  I  did  have  remem 
bers  as  how  the  mamma  did  say  at  morningtime 
there  was  much  work  to  be  done  before  eventime. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  house  we  live  in,  the 
mamma  and  the  little  girl  and  the  baby  —  they 
were  all  gone  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  I  made  a  start 
at  the  works.  I  did  feed  the  chickens,  and  there 
was  much  wood  to  bring  in,  and  baby  clothes  to 
wash,  and  ashes  to  empty  from  the  stove.  These 
four  things  I  did.  I  looked  looks  about  to  see  what 
other  works  did  have  needs  to  be  done.  I  had 
remembers  that  when  the  papa  went  away  to  work 
this  morning  he  said  he  did  not  have  time  to  cut 
the  ham  before  he  went.  I  have  knows  if  he  is  too 
busy  in  the  morning  to  get  a  thing  done,  it  mostly 
don't  get  done  when  he  comes  home  from  work  at 
night.  It  so  does  not,  because  he  has  so  tired  feels. 

To-day  I  had  thinks  the  time  was  come  when  I 
better  help  about  that  ham.  I  went  out  to  the  wood- 


48  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

shed.  I  went  not  out  to  get  wood.  I  went  out  to 
the  wood-shed  to  'tend  to  that  ham.  I  had  thinks 
I  better  make  an  early  start  or  that  ham  wouldn't 
be  cut  up  by  evening.  I  piled  wood  high  enough  so  I 
could  stand  on  tiptoes  and  reach  to  the  flour-sack 
the  ham  was  tied  in.  But  I  could  not  get  that  sack 
down.  I  pulled  and  pulled,  but  it  would  n't  come 
down.  I  did  n't  have  knows  what  I  was  going  to 
do.  Pretty  soon,  by  having  concentration  of  my 
thinks,  I  thought  of  a  way.  I  got  the  scissors  and 
cut  the  bottom  out  of  that  sack.  That  ham  came 
down  right  quick.  It  landed  on  its  back  on  the 
woodpile.  My  foot  slipped  and  I  landed  on  top  of  it. 
I  got  up  and  dragged  it  up  on  the  chopping- 
block.  Then  I  got  the  butcher  knife  from  its  place 
in  the  cook-table  drawer.  I  went  to  work.  That 
knife  did  n't  seem  to  make  moves  like  the  moves  it 
does  make  when  it  is  in  the  hands  of  the  papa.  I 
tried  to  make  it  go  down  in  a  quick  way.  It  went 
not  so.  I  looked  close  looks  at  it.  Its  appears  did 
have  looks  like  it  did  have  needs  of  a  sharp  penny- 
ing.  I  have  seen  the  papa  sharp  pen  it  on  the  grind 
stone  by  the  singing  brook.  So  did  I.  I  poured  a 
goodly  amount  of  water  on  that  stone  wheel.  Most 
of  the  water  splashed  off.  The  rest  did  trickle  away. 
Then  I  did  hold  that  knife  to  the  stone  wheel.  And 
I  did  make  tries  to  turn  it  in  a  quick  way  like  I  have 
seen  the  papa  do.  But  I  could  not  make  that  wheel 
go  in  quick  turns.  It  would  not  so  go.  I  made  big 
tries  for  a  long  time. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  49 

When  I  had  thinks  the  knife  did  look  some  bet 
ter,  I  did  go  again  to  my  work.  I  walked  three 
times  around  that  ham  there  on  the  chopping- 
block.  I  so  did  to  take  looks  at  it  to  see  .where  I 
better  make  begins.  I  did  have  thinks  in  under  its 
outside  where  it  is  most  big  would  be  the  proper 
place.  I  made  begins.  I  did  make  the  knife  to  go  a 
little  way.  Then  I  made  a  stop  to  rest.  Then  I 
made  the  knife  go  some  more.  I  made  another 
stop  to  rest.  I  went  on.  Pretty  soon  a  slice  of  ham 
landed.  It  fell  off  the  chopping-block  onto  a  stick 
of  wood.  I  picked  it  up.  I  held  it  up  to  take  a  look 
at  it.  My,  I  did  feel  such  proud  feels  from  my  toes 
to  my  curls.  I  had  it  cut  in  such  a  nice  way.  It 
had  frills  around  it  and  holes  in  between  —  just 
like  Elsie's  crochet  doily  that  she  keeps  on  her  best 
stand-table.  I  have  knows  the  papa  never  did  cut 
a  slice  of  ham  that  way.  The  slices  of  ham  he  cuts 
—  they  never  do  have  frilly  looks  with  holes  in 
between.  After  I  did  hang  that  slice  of  ham  on  a 
nail  by  the  door,  I  did  cut  another  slice.  It  was  not 
so  wide  but  it  had  more  longness  and  some  strings 
on  it  like  the  little  short  strings  on  the  nightcap  of 
Jenny  Strong.  I  had  not  decides  yet  where  to  hang 
it.  It  was  when  I  was  having  thinks  about  it  —  it 
was  then  I  did  hear  a  heavy  step. 

I  turned  me  all  about,  and  there  was  a  tramper 
by  the  wood-shed  door.  He  had  not  gentle  looks 
like  some  trampers  have.  His  beard  did  grow  in 
the  hobo  way.  And  his  appears  did  look  like  he 


50  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

knew  not  knowings  of  neatness.  He  stood  there 
looking  looks  at  that  ham.  He  kept  his  looks  on  it, 
and  he  did  walk  right  into  the  wood-shed.  He  had 
asking  if  the  mamma  was  at  home.  I  said,  "No, 
she  is  not.  She  is  at  the  house  of  Elsie."  Then  he 
says,  "I  guess  I'll  take  this  ham  along  with  me." 

I  almost  lost  my  breathings,  because  I  did  have 
remembers  of  all  the  days  the  papa  has  plans  to 
have  that  ham  for  breakfast  and  dinner  and  supper. 
So  I  just  sat  down  on  the  chopping-block.  I  sat  on 
the  ham  and  I  spread  my  blue  calicoe  apron  out 
over  it.  I  put  my  hand  on  its  handle  that  it  hangs 
in  the  wood-shed  by.  Me  and  my  apron  covered 
that  ham  so  he  could  n't  have  seeing  of  it.  And 
while  I  sat  on  the  ham,  I  did  pray  God  to  keep  it 
safe  for  the  breakfasts  and  dinners  and  suppers  of 
the  papa  and  the  mamma. 

The  tramper  looked  queer  looks  at  me.  He  came 
a  little  more  near.  I  did  pray  on.  And  God  in  his 
goodness  sent  answers  to  my  prayer  in  a  quick  way. 
Brave  Horatius  came  on  a  run  from  somewhere. 
He  made  a  stop  at  the  wood-shed  door.  He  looked 
a  look  in.  He  gave  a  growl.  Then  he  went  at  that 
tramper.  He  did  grab  him  by  his  ragged  pants.  I 
have  thinks  may  be  his  teeth  did  touch  the  ankle  of 
the  tramper,  because  he  gave  a  little  pain  squeal 
and  shook  his  leg.  Then  he  did  go  in  a  hurry  away. 
Brave  Horatius  followed  after. 

I  was  just  going  to  start  work  again  on  that  ham, 
when  the  mamma  was  come  home  from  her  visit. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  51 

She  did  soon  give  me  a  whipping  and  put  me  here 
under  the  bed.  Now  I  have  wonders  what  that 
whipping  was  for.  I  did  feed  the  chickens  and 
carry  in  the  wood  and  do  the  baby's  washing  and 
empty  the  ashes.  And  more  I  did  beside  —  I  cut 
two  slices  of  ham  with  frills  on  them. 

Now  I  have  thinks  about  trampers  —  how  they 
do  differ.  Many  of  them  follow  the  railroad  track. 
They  make  goes  to  the  upper  camps  beyond  the 
riviere.  They  do  carry  a  roll  on  their  backs.  They 
so  carry  their  blankets.  They  go  that  way  and 
some  of  them  come  down  the  track  very  soon  again. 
Some  stay  nowhere  long. 

Some  of  the  trampers  that  go  the  way  that  goes 
to  the  upper  camps  do  have  stops  when  they  go  by 
here.  They  stop  to  get  a  bite  to  eat.  And  some 
come  to  the  front  door,  and  some  do  come  to  the 
back  door.  They  knock  on  the  door.  Some  rap 
their  knuckles  hard  and  some  tap  in  a  gentle  way. 
There  was  one  who  so  did  one  week  ago.  Sleeps 
was  just  come  upon  the  baby  after  I  did  sing  it  "Le 
chanson  de  Saint  Firmin,"  and  I  did  go  to  the  door 
to  see  who  it  was.  The  man  that  it  was,  he  said  he 
was  on  his  way  to  get  work  at  the  upper  camps. 
He  was  a  man  with  a  clean  sad  face  and  a  kind  look 
in  his  eyes.  And  the  roll  upon  his  back  was  a  heavy 
roll.  I  straightway  did  go  and  get  my  bowl  of  bread 
and  milk  that  I  was  going  to  have  for  dinner.  I 
gave  it  to  him.  He  ate  it  in  a  hungry  way,  like 
Brave  Horatius  does  eat  his  supper  when  we  are 


52  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

come  back  from  a  long  explore  trip.  Then,  when 
the  man  did  eat  all  the  bread  and  milk,  he  did  split 
some  wood  out  in  the  woodshed.  He  did  pile  it  up 
in  a  nice  way.  Then  he  went.  He  went  on  to  the 
upper  camps.  When  he  did  go  he  said,  "The  Lord's 
blessing  be  with  you,  child."  I  said,  "It  is."  And 
I  did  tell  him,  "We  have  a  cathedral  in  the  woods 
—  and  this  eventime,  when  we  have  prayers  there, 
we  will  pray  that  you  may  get  work  at  the  upper 
camps."  And  at  coming  of  eventime  we  did.  And 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  did  grunt  Amen  at  in-between 
times.  Now  every  day  we  do  pray  for  the  man  that 
was  hungry  and  had  a  kind  look  in  his  eyes. 

Some  days  are  long.  Some  days  are  short.  The 
days  that  I  have  to  stay  in  the  house  are  the  most 
long  days  of  all.  In  the  morningtime  of  now,  I  had 
thinks  to  go  on  explores.  I  was  going  to  Saint 
Firmin  and  adown  the  Nonette.  I  was  going  to 
listen  to  its  singings.  And  Peter  Paul  Rubens  and 
Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  —  we  were  all 
going  together.  When  I  did  have  the  wood  in  the 
wood-box,  the  mamma  hollered  at  me.  She  said 
when  she  got  back  from  Elsie's  she  was  going  to 
make  me  stay  in  the  house  all  the  rest  of  the  day. 

While  she  was  gone  to  the  house  of  Elsie,  I  did 
make  prepares.  I  took  all  the  safety-pins  out  of 
the  machine  drawer.  I  took  all  the  patch-pieces 
out  of  the  mamma's  work-basket.  I  made  patches 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  53 

all  over  my  underskirt  except  where  I  do  sit  down. 
I  put  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  in  one  of  the  pock 
ets  I  did  so  make.  I  put  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  in  another  one.  In  one  more  pocket  I  put 
Felix  Mendelssohn.  He  peeked  out.  Then  he  set 
tled  down.  He  so  does  like  to  take  naps  in  the  pock 
ets  I  pin  on  my  underskirts.  I  put  Nannerl  Mozart 
in  another  pocket.  Then,  when  the  mamma  was 
come,  I  did  walk  into  the  house  in  a  quiet  way. 

Before  she  did  go  she  told  me  do's  to  do  while 
she  was  gone.  She  told  me  to  keep  the  fire  going 
and  to  tend  the  baby  —  to  fix  its  bottle  for  it  and 
to  mind  it  all  the  time.  Then  she  shut  the  door  and 
locked  it  and  went  in  the  way  that  does  go  to  the 
house  of  the  grandma  by  the  meeting  of  the  roads. 
I  did  watch  her  out  the  window.  Then  I  did  put 
some  more  wood  in  the  fire.  After  that  I  did  look 
looks  about.  There  are  no  rows  and  rows  and  rows 
of  books  in  this  house,  like  Angel  Mother  and  Angel 
Father  had.  There  is  only  three  books  here.  One 
is  a  cook-book  and  one  is  a  doctor-book  and  one  is 
a  almanac.  They  all  are  on  top  of  the  cupboard 
most  against  the  top  of  the  house.  They  have  not 
interest  names  on  their  backs.  The  alarm-clock 
does  set  on  the  shelf  where  it  always  sets  all  day 
long.  At  night-time  it  sets  on  a  chair  by  the  bed 
that  the  mamma  and  the  papa  sleep  in.  It  sets  on 
the  chair  all  night  with  its  alarm  set.  It  is  so  the 
papa  will  be  made  awake  early  in  the  morning. 
That  clock  has  interest  looks.  Some  day  when 


54  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

there  is  not  a  fire  in  the  stove,  I  have  thinks  I  will 
take  that  clock  apart  to  see  what  its  looks  are  in 
side.  On  a  day  when  there  is  no  fire  in  the  stove,  I 
will  climb  upon  it.  I  can  reach  that  shelf  when  I 
stand  on  tiptoe  on  top  of  the  stove. 

After  I  did  look  looks  at  the  clock,  I  did  look 
looks  out  the  front  window.  There  are  calf-tracks 
by  our  front  door.  These  tracks  are  there  because 
when  I  went  walking  with  Elizabeth  Barrett  Brown 
ing  on  yesterday,  I  had  her  wait  at  the  front  step 
while  I  did  go  into  the  kitchen  to  get  her  some 
sugar-lumps.  She  has  a  fondness  for  sweet  things. 
I  think  she  will  grow  up  to  be  a  lovely  cow.  Her 
mooings  now  are  very  musical,  and  there  is  poetry 
in  her  tracks.  She  does  make  such  dainty  ones. 
When  they  dry  up  in  the  lane,  I  dig  up  her  tracks, 
and  I  save  them.  There  is  much  poetry  in  them; 
and  when  I  take  her  track  out  that  I  keep  in  the 
back  part  of  the  cook-table  drawer,  I  look  at  it  and 
think,  this  way  passed  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning. 

After  I  did  look  looks  out  the  front  window,  I  did 
look  looks  out  the  back  window.  William  Shake 
speare  and  the  others  —  they  were  pulling  in  logs. 
That  Rob  Ryder  was  trying  to  make  them  go  more 
fast.  All  the  horses  do  have  to  pull  so  hard  when 
they  pull  logs  in.  Sometimes  they  look  tired  looks, 
and  when  they  are  come  in  from  work  I  go  to  the 
barn.  I  rub  their  heads;  for  when  the  mamma  is 
tired  she  does  like  rubs  on  her  head. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

How  Opal  Takes  a  Walk  in  the  Forest  of  Chantilly;  she  Visits 
Elsie  and  her  Baby  Boy,  and  Explains  Many  Things  to 
the  Girl  that  Has  no  Seeing. 

WHILE  I  did  watch  the  horses,  the  baby  had 
wake-ups.  I  went  to  sing  her  to  sleep.  I  sang  her 
about  William  Wordsworth.  When  sleeps  was 
come  upon  the  baby  I  had  remembers  when  she 
went  away  the  mamma  wished  she  did  have  some 
varnish  to  shine  up  the  furniture  with.  So  while 
she  is  gone  I  have  given  the  furniture  a  shine-up 
with  vaseline.  Vaseline  gives  just  as  bright  a 
shine  as  varnish  does.  I  have  aunt  tis  a  pay  shuns 
the  mamma  will  be  pleased  when  her  arrives  come 
home. 

When  the  furniture  was  all  fixed  proper,  I  looked 
a  look  out  the  window.  Raindrops  were  beginning 
to  come  down  from  the  sky.  Their  coming  was  in  a 
gentle  way.  I  had  longs  to  be  out  with  them.  I  so 
do  like  to  feel  the  raindrops  patter  on  my  head  and 
I  like  to  run  runs  and  hold  out  my  hands  to  meet 
them.  There  was  more  rain  and  there  was  sun 
shine.  There  came  across  the  sky  the  arc-en-ciel. 
Then  was  its  going,  and  grayness  after.  I  watched 
the  raindrops  in  the  brook  going  on  and  on.  When 
I  grow  up  I  am  going  to  write  a  book  about  a  rain 
drop's  journey. 


56  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

While  I  did  watch  the  raindrops  I  had  longs  to 
go  to  the  foret  de  Chantilly  and  adown  by  Nonette. 
I  did  have  thinks  more  about  it.  I  took  some  of  the 
wood  out  of  the  wood-box.  I  stood  it  up  for  trees. 
I  called  them  all  foret  de  Chantilly.  We  went  a 
walk  between  them  —  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil 
and  I  did.  Then  I  took  the  dipper  full  of  water  and 
I  let  it  pour  in  little  pours  a  riviere  on  the  kitchen 
floor.  That  was  for  Nonette.  Then  all  of  us  went  a 
walk  by  Nonette.  We  went  in  little  steps  to  make 
the  time  go  longer.  Felix  Mendelssohn  perched  on 
my  shoulder.  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  did  ride 
in  my  hands,  and  Nannerl  Mozart  in  my  apron 
pocket.  I  took  some  more  water  and  the  dipper  and 
I  made  it  go  a  little  riviere  to  join  Nonette.  Then 
we  went  a  walk  by  Lounette.  And  more  I  did 
pour  in  little  pours  to  join  Nonette.  That  was  for 
Aunette. 

After  we  did  have  walks  all  in  between  the  foret 
de  Chantilly,  I  took  more  sticks  from  the  wood- 
box  back  of  the  stove  and  I  made  another  foret. 
Then  we  went  walking  in  the  foret  d'Ermenonville. 
When  we  were  come  back  from  that  walk,  I  made 
some  lions  out  of  cheese.  Two  I  made.  I  made  them 
to  put  in  foret  de  Chantilly  at  the  begins  of  route 
du  Connetable.  Then  we  went  a  walk  again  in 
foret  de  Chantilly.  I  had  to  have  carefuls  not  to  go 
a  step  too  big,  because  I  did  stand  the  sticks  of 
wood  near  unto  one  another,  and  if  I  took  a  big 
step  they  might  have  falls  over. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  57 

While  I  was  standing  up  more  sticks  of  woods  for 
more  trees  in  foret  de  Chantilly,  the  baby  did  have 
wake-ups.  I  went  to  sing  it  to  sleep.  I  sang  it 
about  Good  King  Edward  I.  When  I  went  again 
into  the  kitchen,  there  was  Louis  II,  le  Grand 
Conde,  and  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Nannerl  Mo 
zart  all  in  the  foret  de  Chantilly.  They  were  at  the 
begins  of  the  route  du  Connetable.  They  were 
nibbling  nibbles  at  the  two  lions  there  of  cheese. 
Already  they  did  have  ragged  noses,  where  all  of 
the  three  mouses  did  nibble  nibbles.  I  have  thinks 
I  will  have  to  make  lions  of  stone  for  the  begins 
of  route  du  Connetable.  The  baby  had  wakes-up 
again.  I  did  sing  it  to  sleep  with  chant  d'automne. 

Now  I  sit  here  and  I  print.  The  baby  sleeps  on. 
The  wind  comes  creeping  in  under  the  door.  It 
calls,  "Come,  come,  petite  Fran^oise,  come."  It 
calls  to  me  to  come  go  exploring.  It  sings  of  the 
things  that  are  to  be  found  under  leaves.  It  whis 
pers  the  dreams  of  the  tall  fir  trees.  It  does  pipe 
the  gentle  song  the  forest  sings  on  gray  days.  I  hear 
all  the  voices  calling  me.  I  listen  —  but  I  cannot 

go- 
Now  are  come  the  days  of  brown  leaves.  They 
fall  from  the  trees.  They  flutter  on  the  ground. 
When  the  brown  leaves  flutter,  they  are  saying 
little  things.  They  talk  with  the  wind.  I  hear  them 
tell  of  their  borning  days  when  they  did  come  into 
the  world  as  leaves.  And  they  whisper  of  the  hoods 


S8  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

they  wore  then.  I  saw  them.  I  use  to  count  them 
on  the  way  to  school.  To-day  they  were  talking  of 
the  time  before  their  horning  days  of  this  spring 
time.  They  talked  on  and  on,  and  I  did  listen  on 
to  what  they  were  telling  the  wind  and  the  earth 
in  their  whisperings.  They  told  how  they  were  a 
part  of  earth  and  air  before  their  tree-borning  days. 
And  now  they  are  going  back.  In  gray  days  of 
winter  they  go  back  to  the  earth  again.  But  they 
do  not  die. 

And  in  the  morning  of  to-day  it  was  that  I  did 
listen  to  these  talkings  of  the  brown  leaves.  Then 
I  faced  about.  I  turned  my  face  and  all  of  me  to  the 
way  that  leads  to  the  house  we  live  in,  for  there  was 
much  works  to  be  done. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  house  I  went  around  and 
I  did  walk  in  the  back  doorway.  The  mamma 
was  n't  in.  I  took  long  looks  about  to  see  what 
works  I  best  do  first.  There  was  washed-up  dishes 
in  a  bake-pan,  so  I  did  dish-towel  them  all  and  put 
them  away.  There  was  needs  to  climb  upon  a  chair 
and  upon  a  box,  to  put  those  dishes  where  they 
ought  to  be  put.  While  I  was  up  there,  I  took  looks 
about  to  see  what  there  was.  I  saw  a  cake  of  bon 
ami.  Bon  ami  is  to  give  things  a  shine-up.  And 
this  morning  I  gave  the  knives  a  shine-up  and  the 
forks  too.  Then  I  tried  bon  ami  on  the  black  ket 
tles  and  the  bake-pans.  It  did  not  give  unto  them 
such  nice  appears,  so  I  gave  them  a  shine-up  with 
vaseline.  After  that  I  did  take  the  broom  from  its 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  59 

place,  and  I  gave  the  floor  a  good  brooming.  I 
broomed  the  boards  up  and  down  and  cross-ways. 
There  was  not  a  speck  of  dirt  on  them  left.  What 
I  did  sweep  off  with  the  broom,  I  did  place  into  a 
shoe-box  lid  and  dust  it  in  the  stove.  Then  the 
floor  did  look  clean  like  the  mamma  does  say  it 
ought  to  look  all  the  time.  I  put  the  broom  back  in 
its  place  where  the  mamma  does  say  it  ought  to  be. 

Then  I  did  look  looks  from  the  floor  to  the  win 
dow.  I  thought  I  better  clean  the  window  too  while 
I  was  fixing  things.  Just  when  I  started  to  put  bon 
ami  on  the  window,  I  did  look  out  to  see  what  I 
could  see.  I  saw  Agamemnon  Menelaus  Dindon 
going  in  a  slow  walk  by.  He  was  giving  his  neck  a 
stretch-out.  He  gave  it  another  one,  and  when  he 
made  a  swallow  his  throat  did  look  appears  of 
croup.  And  croup  does  always  have  needs  of  being 
fixed  up.  So  I  laid  down  the  bon  ami,  and  I  went 
and  I  did  pour  a  whole  lot  of  coal-oil  down  the 
throat  of  Agamemnon  Menelaus  Dindon.  That 
was  to  make  his  croup  go  away.  Now  he  will  be 
feeling  well  feels  real  soon.  He  did  n't  want  to  take 
the  coal-oil.  I  had  to  hold  him  tight.  Some  turkey 
gobblers  can  kick  most  hard. 

When  I  did  have  him  fixed  I  thought  I  better 
take  looks  about  to  see  if  any  more  folks  did  have 
croup  appears.  I  yet  did  have  some  coal-oil  left  in 
the  bottle.  Few  folks  were  about,  and  none  did 
have  croup  looks.  So  I  did  go  again  to  the  cleaning 
of  the  window.  When  that  was  done  in  the  proper 


60  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

way  the  mamma  says  it  ought  to  be  done,  I  did 
stop  to  eat  some  bread  and  milk,  for  it  was  after 
dinner-time  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  supper- 
time. 

After  that  I  went  out  in  the  wood-shed  where  the 
papa  keeps  his  tools.  He  keeps  them  in  a  big  box. 
Some  days  he  forgets  to  lock  the  box.  Those  days 
I  have  very  interesting  times  in  the  wood-shed. 
There  are  all  kinds  of  queer-looking  things  in  that 
tool-box.  Just  when  I  did  have  the  lid  open  the 
mamma  did  call. 

She  was  come  again  home,  and  she  sent  me  back 
to  Elsie's  to  get  the  tidy  she  was  crocheting  that 
she  did  forget  and  leave  there.  So  I  did  go  the  way 
that  does  lead  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  It  is  not  far 
from  the  house  we  live  in,  and  Elsie  has  not  been 
married  long.  She  only  has  one  baby.  She  has 
much  liking  for  it.  Elsie  is  a  very  young  girl  — 
a  very  young  girl  to  be  married,  the  mamma  says. 
To-day  when  I  came  to  the  house  of  Elsie,  she  was 
trotting  on  her  knee  that  dear  baby  boy  the  angels 
brought  her  when  she  did  live  at  the  other  camp 
where  we  did  live  too.  To  him  she  was  singing  a 
song.  It  was  — 

"Gallop-a-trot, 
Gallop-a-trot, 

This  is  the  way  the  gentlemen  ride, 
Gallop-a-trot." 

She  tossed  her  head  as  she  did  sing.  And  the  joy- 
light  danced  in  her  eyes. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  61 

I  have  thinks  it  must  be  wonderful  happiness  to 
be  married.  I  have  seen  the  same  joy-light  in  the 
eyes  of  her  tall  young  husband.  It  is  there  much 
when  he  is  come  home  at  eventide  from  work  in  the 
woods.  Then  she  does  have  many  kind  words  and 
kisses  for  him.  He  has  adoors  for  her,  and  too  he 
has  a  pumpadoor  that  he  smooths  back  with 
vaseline.  Why  to-day  I  did  see  he  had  used  most 
all  of  the  vaseline  out  of  that  jar  that  sets  on  their 
kitchen  shelf.  That  vaseline  jar  has  an  interest 
look.  I  have  been  watching  it.  And  every  day 
when  I  do  stand  on  tiptoe  and  take  peeks  at  it, 
there  is  not  so  much  vaseline  in  it  as  there  was  in 
it  the  day  before.  I  have  thinks  it  does  take  a 
goodly  amount  to  keep  his  pumpadoor  smooth. 

While  I  was  bringing  home  the  tidy  the  mamma 
did  leave  at  the  house  of  Elsie,  I  met  a  chapine 
baby.  He  did  sail  away.  Erable  leaves  did  go  in 
little  hops,  and  so  went  I.  Soon  I  saw  a  gray  board. 
I  did  turn  it  over.  Under  that  old  gray  board  were 
five  little  silk  bags.  They  were  white  and  they  did 
feel  lumps.  I  know  baby  spiders  will  come  out  of 
them  when  comes  spring  days,  because  last  year  I 
found  bags  like  these,  and  this  year  in  the  spring 
baby  spiders  walked  out.  They  were  very  fidgety 
youngsters. 

Just  when  I  did  most  have  decides  to  take  them 
to  the  nursery,  I  heard  the  mamma  calling.  I  put 
the  board  back  again  in  the  way  it  was  before  I 
came  that  way.  Then  I  did  run  a  quick  run  to  the 


62  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

house.  And  the  mamma  did  send  me  in  a  hurry  to 
the  wood-shed.  It  was  for  two  loads  of  wood  she 
wanted.  I  did  bring  in  the  first  load  in  a  hurry. 
The  second  load  I' brought  not  so.  I  did  pick  up 
all  the  sticks  my  arms  could  hold.  While  I  was 
picking  them  up,  I  looked  long  looks  at  them.  I 
went  not  to  the  kitchen  with  them  in  a  quick  way. 
I  was  meditating.  I  did  have  thinks  about  the 
tree  they  all  were  before  they  got  chopped  up.  I 
did  wonder  how  I  would  feel  if  I  was  a  very  little 
piece  of  wood  that  got  chopped  out  of  a  very  big 
tree.  I  did  think  that  it  would  have  hurt  my  feel 
ings.  I  felt  of  the  feelings  of  the  wood.  They  did 
have  a  very  sad  feel. 

Just  when  I  was  getting  that  topmost  stick  a  bit 
wet  with  sympathy  tears  —  then  the  mamma  did 
come  up  behind  me  with  a  switch.  She  said  while 
she  did  switch,  "Stop  your  meditations."  And 
while  she  did  switch,  I  did  drop  the  wood.  I  felt 
the  feels  the  sticks  of  wood  felt  when  they  hit  the 
floor.  Then  I  did  pick  them  up  with  care  and  I  put 
them  all  in  the  wood-box  back  of  the  cook-stove. 
I  put  them  there  because  the  mamma  said  I  must 
put  them  there.  But  all  the  time  I  was  churning  I 
did  hum  a  little  song.  It  was  a  good-bye  song  to  the 
sticks  in  the  wood-box  back  of  the  kitchen  stove. 

When  the  churning  was  done  and  the  butter  was 
come,  the  mamma  did  lift  all  the  little  lumps  of 
butter  out  of  the  churn.  Then  she  did  pat  them 
together  in  a  big  lump,  and  this  she  put  away  in 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  63 

the  butter-box  in  the  wood-shed.  When  she  went 
to  lay  herself  down  to  rest  on  the  bed,  she  did  call 
me  to  rub  her  head.  I  like  to  rub  the  mamma's 
head,  for  it  does  help  the  worry  lines  to  go  away. 
Often  I  rub  her  head,  for  it  is  often  she  does  have 
longings  to  have  it  so.  And  I  do  think  it  is  very 
nice  to  help  people  have  what  they  do  have  long 
ings  for. 

By-and-by,  when  the  mamma  did  have  sleeps 
and  after  I  did  print,  I  did  go  to  listen  to  the  voices. 
The  wind  was  calling.  His  calling  was  to  little  wood- 
folk  and  me.  He  did  call  more  again:  "Come,  pe 
tite  Francoise,  come  go  explores."  He  was  in  a  rush. 
I  raced.  Brave  Horatius  ran.  We  played  tag  with 
the  wind.  The  wind  does  have  many  things  to 
tell.  He  does  toss  back  one's  curls  so  he  can  whisper 
things  in  one's  ears.  To-day  he  did  twice  push  back 
my  curls  three  times,  that  I  might  better  hear  what 
he  did  have  to  say.  He  whispered  little  whispers 
about  the  cradles  of  moths  to  be  that  hang  a-swing- 
ing  on  the  bushes  in  the  woods.  I  went  around  to 
see  about  it.  I  looked  looks  on  many  bushes.  Some 
brown  leaves  were  swinging  from  some  bushes.  No 
cradles  I  found. 

By-and-by  I  came  to  a  log.  It  was  a  nice  little 
log.  It  was  as  long  as  three  pigs  as  long  as  Peter 
Paul  Rubens.  I  climbed  upon  it.  I  so  did  to  look 
more  looks  about.  The  wind  did  blow  in  a  real 
quick  way.  He  made  music  all  around.  I  danced 
on  the  log.  It  is  so  much  a  big  amount  of  joy  to 


64  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

dance  on  a  log  when  the  wind  does  play  the  harps 
in  the  forest.  Then  do  I  dance  on  tiptoe.  I  wave 
greetings  to  the  plant-bush  folks  that  do  dance  all 
about.  To-day  a  grand  pine  tree  did  wave  its  arms 
to  me.  And  the  bush  branches  patted  my  cheek  in 
a  friendly  way.  The  wind  again  did  blow  back  my 
curls.  They  clasp  the  fingers  of  the  bush  people 
most  near.  I  did  turn  around  to  untangle  them.  It 
is  most  difficult  to  dance  on  tiptoe  on  a  log  when 
one's  curls  are  in  a  tangle  with  the  branches  of  a 
friendly  bush  that  grows  near  unto  the  log  and 
does  make  bows  to  one  while  the  wind  doth  blow. 

When  I  did  turn  to  untangle  my  curls,  I  saw  a 
silken  cradle  in  a  hazel  branch.  I  have  thinks  that 
the  wind  did  just  tangle  my  curls  so  I  would  have 
seeing  of  that  cradle.  It  was  cream,  with  a  hazel 
leaf  half-way  round  it.  I  put  it  to  my  ear  and  I  did 
listen.  It  had  a  little  voice.  It  was  not  a  tone 
voice.  It  was  a  heart  voice.  While  I  did  listen,  I 
did  feel  its  feels.  It  has  lovely  ones.  And  I  did 
hurry  away  in  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  house 
of  the  girl  that  has  no  seeing.  I  went  that  way  so 
she  too  might  know  its  feels  and  hear  its  heart 
voice.  She  does  so  like  to  feel  things.  She  has 
seeing  by  feels.  Often  I  do  carry  things  to  her  when 
I  find  them  and  she  knows  some  of  my  friends. 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  has  gone  with  me  to  visit 
her.  So  has  gone  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Nannerl 
Mozart  —  the  two  mices  with  voices  that  squeak 
mouse-songs  in  the  night.  And  Plato  and  Pliny, 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  65 

the  two  bats,  and  others  go  too.  And  their  goings 
and  what  she  has  thinks  about  them  I  have  printed 
here  in  my  prints.  And  it  is  often  I  go  the  way  that 
does  lead  to  her  house,  for  the  girl  who  has  no 
seeing  —  she  and  I  —  we  are  friends. 

One  day  I  told  her  about  the  trees  talking.  Then 
she  did  want  to  know  about  the  voices,  and  now  I 
do  help  her  to  hear  them.  And  too  I  tell  her  about 
comparer,  that  Angel  Father  did  teach  me  to  play, 
and  I  show  her  the  way.  She  cannot  look  long 
looks  at  things,  to  see  how  they  look  not  looks  alike, 
because  she  has  no  seeing.  So  she  is  learning  to 
play  comparer  by  feels. 

To-day,  after  she  did  feel  the  feels  of  the  cream 
cradle  and  we  did  play  comparer,  then  she  asked  me 
what  the  trees  were  saying.  And  I  led  her  out 
across  her  yard  and  away  to  the  woods,  and  Brave 
Horatius  did  follow  after.  I  led  her  in  the  way 
that  does  lead  to  that  grand  fir  tree,  Good  King 
Louis  VI.  And  when  we  were  come  unto  him,  I  did 
touch  his  finger-tips  to  her  cheeks.  She  liked  that. 
Then  we  did  stand  near  unto  him,  and  I  told  her 
of  the  trees  in  the  night,  of  the  things  they  tell  to 
the  shadows  that  wander  through  the  woods.  She 
said  she  did  n't  think  she  would  like  to  be  a  shadow. 

And  just  then  she  stubbed  her  toe.  She  did  ask 
me  what  that  was  there  near  unto  her  foot.  I  told 
her  it  was  a  ville  I  did  build  there  —  the  ville  of  St. 
Denis.  She  wanted  to  know  why  I  builded  it  there. 
I  told  her  there  was  needs  of  it,  being  near  unto 


66  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Good  King  Louis  VI,  for  he  so  loved  it;  so  I  builded 
it  there  where  his  branches  shelter  it  and  his  kind 
ness  looks  kind  looks  upon  it.  And  I  did  tell  her 
about  his  being  on  his  way  to  St.  Denis  when  he 
died.  While  I  builded  up  again  the  corner  of  the 
abbey,  I  did  give  explanations  about  how  lovely 
it  is  to  be  a  gray  shadow  walking  along  and  touch 
ing  the  faces  of  people.  Shadows  do  have  such 
velvety  fingers. 

After  that  we  did  go  on.  We  went  on  on  to  where 
dwell  Alan  of  Bretagne  and  Etienne  of  Blois  and 
Godefroi  of  Bouillon  and  Raymond  of  Toulouse. 
To  each  I  led  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing,  and  she 
was  glad  to  know  them  all.  They  are  grand  trees. 
As  we  went  our  way,  we  did  listen  unto  the  voices. 
And  I  took  all  the  hairpins  that  was  in  her  hair  out 
of  it.  I  so  did  so  the  wind  could  blow  it  back  and 
whisper  things  into  her  ears.  The  wind  does  have 
so  much  to  tell  of  far  lands  and  of  little  folks  that 
dwell  near  unto  us  in  the  fields  and  in  the  woods. 

To-day  near  eventime  I  did  lead  the  girl  who  has 
no  seeing  a  little  way  away  into  the  forest,  where  it 
was  darkness,  and  shadows  were.  I  led  her  toward  a 
shadow  that  was  coming  our  way.  It  did  touch  her 
cheeks  with  its  velvety  fingers.  And  now  she  too 
does  have  likings  for  shadows.  And  her  fear  that 
was  is  gone.  And  after  that  we  turned  about  to 
the  way  that  does  lead  out  of  the  forest.  And  so  we 
went  and  I  led  her  again  home.  We  did  hurry  a 
bit.  We  so  did  because  it  was  most  time  for  her 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  67 

folks  to  be  there.  Often  she  does  say  I  must  n't 
be  thereabout  when  her  folks  are  thereabout.  I 
don't  be. 

At  the  steps  of  the  door  that  does  go  into  her 
house  she  did  tell  me  good-bye.  When  she  so  did, 
she  kissed  me  on  each  cheek  like  she  always  does. 
Then  I  did  turn  my  face  to  the  way  that  leads  to 
the  house  we  live  in.  Cloud-ships  were  sailing  over 
the  hills.  They  were  in  a  hurry.  The  wind  was  in  a 
hurry.  Brown  leaves,  little  ones  and  big  ones,  were 
hurrying  along.  I  thought  I  had  better  get  a  hurry 
on  me.  I  did. 

When  I  was  come  near  unto  the  barn,  I  did  go  in 
to  get  Plato  and  Pliny.  I  put  them  in  my  apron 
pockets.  The  barn  was  rather  dark.  There  were 
friendly  shadows  in  its  corners.  When  I  came  out 
I  thought  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  I  did  have  thinks 
cathedral  service  would  be  good  for  his  soul.  I  went 
again  into  the  barn  to  get  his  little  bell  that  he 
does  always  wear  around  his  neck  to  service,  and  I 
did  put  it  on.  There  was  a  time  when  there  was  no 
little  bell  for  Peter  Paul  Rubens  to  wear  to  service. 
That  was  in  the  days  before  one  day  when  I  did 
say  to  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is 
kind  to  mice,  "I  do  have  needs  of  a  little  bell  for 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  to  wear  to  church."  I  got  it. 
And  Peter  Paul  Rubens  always  knows  he  is  going 
to  the  cathedral  when  I  put  that  little  bell  around 
his  neck.  It  does  make  lovely  silver  tinkles  as  he 
goes  walking  down  the  aisle  to  the  altar. 


68  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

To-night  so  we  did  go,  and  too  with  us  was  Eliz 
abeth  Barrett  Browning.  When  we  were  come 
near  unto  the  hospital,  I  went  aside  for  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  In  the  cathedral  the 
wind  and  the  trees  sang  a  vesper  song.  And  I 
prayed  for  quite  a  time  long  little  prayers  and  long 
prayers  for  the  goodness  of  us  all.  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  did  grunt  Amen  at  in-between  times. 

Now  I  hear  the  mamma  say,  "I  wonder  where 
Opal  is."  She  has  forgets.  I 'm  still  under  the  bed 
where  she  did  put  me  quite  a  time  ago.  And  all 
this  nice  long  time  light  is  come  to  here  from  the 
lamp  on  the  kitchen  table  —  light  enough  so  I 
can  print  prints.  I  am  happy.  I  think  I  better 
crawl  out  now  and  go  into  the  bed  for  sleeps 


CHAPTER  IX 

Of  an  Exploring  Trip  with  Brave  Horatius;  and  how  Opal 
Kept  Sadness  away  from  her  Animal  Friends. 

NEAR  eventime  to-day  I  did  go  out  the  house 
when  the  works  were  done.  I  went  out  the  front 
door  and  a  little  way  down  the  path.  I  made  a  stop 
to  watch  the  clouds.  They  first  did  come  over  the 
hills  in  a  slow  way.  Then  they  did  sail  on  and  on. 
They  were  like  ships.  I  did  have  wonders  what 
thoughts  they  were  carrying  from  the  hills  to  some 
where.  While  I  did  watch,  Brave  Horatius  did 
come  and  stand  by  my  side.  He  looked  up  at  me. 
In  his  eyes  were  askings.  I  made  explainings.  I 
told  him,  "Le  ciel  est  plein  de  nuages,  qui  ont  1'air 
de  navires." 

While  I  did  talk  with  him,  the  mamma  did  call. 
I  went  in.  Brave  Horatius  followed  after.  She 
made  him  go  out  the  other  door.  I  went  too.  I 
went  to  get  the  potatoes  the  mamma  wanted  for 
supper.  I  got  them  out  of  a  sack  in  the  wood 
shed.  When  she  did  make  prepares  to  peel  the 
potatoes,  the  mamma  reached  away  back  in  the 
cook-table  drawer  for  the  paring  knife.  When  she 
did  reach  so  far  back,  she  did  feel  the  track  of 
Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning.  Then  she  pulled  it 
out  real  quick.  She  threw  it  out  the  window.  When 
I  went  to  pick  it  up,  it  was  broken  into  eleven 


7o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

pieces.  I  did  gather  up  all  the  pieces.  They  got  a 
little  bit  wet  from  tears  that  trickled  down  my 
nose.  When  I  did  get  the  pieces  together,  I  did  put 
them  in  the  back  part  of  the  machine  drawer. 

While  I  so  did,  I  heard  a  grunt  by  the  bedroom 
window.  I  climbed  out.  There  was  Peter  Paul 
Rubens,  and  near  unto  him  was  Brave  Horatius. 
To  each  I  gave  four  pats  on  the  nose.  They  have 
likes  for  pats  on  the  nose.  Then  I  went  adown  the 
path.  They  walked  beside  me.  I  saw  the  cloud- 
ships  sailing  on.  I  made  a  stop  to  tell  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  what  I  did  tell  Brave  Horatius.  I  did  n't 
get  it  all  told.  When  I  did  say,  "Le  ciel  est  plein 
de  nuages,"  Peter  Paul  Rubens  did  grunt  a  grunt 
to  go  on.  That  was  his  own  dear  way  of  telling  me 
he  already  did  have  knowings  those  clouds  looked 
like  ships.  I  gave  him  a  pat  and  one  to  Brave 
Horatius  too. 

I  went  on.  They  walked  beside  me.  I  went  on  a 
little  way.  Then  I  did  go  aside  from  the  path.  I 
so  went  to  the  altar  of  Saint  Louis.  Three  logs  and 
four  stumps  and  three  trees  it  is  distant  from  the 
path.  And  I  took  there  with  me  all  the  little  plants 
with  green  leaves  —  the  ones  I  did  dig  up  yester 
day.  I  brought  them  to  plant  them  in  a  crown  there 
on  his  altar,  for  this  day  is  the  day  of  his  crowning 
in  1226.  While  I  did  plant  them,  the  wind  did  sing 
a  memory  song.  And  the  trees  were  talking.  I 
have  thinks  they  were  saying  of  the  goodness  of 
Saint  Louis.  Peter  Paul  Rubens,  he  did  have 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  71 

understanding  of  what  they  were  saying.    He  did 
grunt  Amen  at  in-between  times. 

To-day  in  the  morning,  when  the  mamma  was 
in  the  other  room,  I  did  take  down  from  its  hook 
the  papa's  big  coat.  I  did  put  it  onto  me  and  it  did 
trail  away  out  behind.  I  like  to  wear  the  papa's 
big  coat.  Jenny  Strong,  who  comes  to  visit  us,  says 
the  reason  I  like  to  wear  the  papa's  big  coat  is 
because  it  makes  me  more  grown-up.  She's  wrong. 
The  reason  I  like  to  wear  the  papa's  big  coat  is 
because  it  has  pockets  in  it  —  big  ones  —  nice 
ones  to  put  toads  and  mice  and  caterpillars  and 
beetles  in.  That's  why  I  like  to  wear  the  papa's 
coat.  Why,  when  I  go  walking  in  the  papa's  big 
coat,  nearly  the  whole  nursery  can  go  along.  This 
morning,  just  as  I  was  making  a  start  out  the  door 
to  the  nursery,  the  mamma  came  into  the  kitchen. 
She  did  hurry  to  the  door  and  I  did  hurry  out.  But 
she  caught  me  by  the  end  of  the  coat.  She  did  get 
that  coat  off  of  me  in  a  quick  way.  She  hung  it 
back  on  its  nail.  When  it  was  hung  on  its  nail  in 
the  proper  way,  she  gave  to  me  a  shoulder-shake. 
And  I  did  go  to  feed  the  chickens. 

After  I  did  feed  the  chickens  all,  and  have  some 
conversations  with  them,  I  went  in  to  get  the  lard- 
pail  that  does  have  my  school  lunch  in  it.  While  I 
was  putting  my  jacket  on,  the  mamma  did  tie  a 
new  piece  of  asfiditee  around  my  neck  to  keep  me 
from  having  disease.  It  was  a  big  piece  of  asfiditee. 


72  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

It  did  n't  stay  a  big  piece  very  long.  I  divided  it 
with  my  animal  friends.  Now  each  one  of  us  has  a 
bit  of  asfiditee  tied  around  our  necks,  so  we  will 
not  catch  sickness.  I  do  so  like  to  share  things.  I 
could  not  find  Brave  Horatius  to  give  him  his  share. 
I  did  have  it  already  to  tie  around  his  dear  neck, 
but  he  did  not  answer  when  I  did  call.  I  called  in 
the  woods  and  I  called  in  the  field.  When  he  did 
not  come,  I  went  a  little  way  back  in  the  woods  to 
a  root.  I  hid  his  piece  of  asfiditee  there.  To-morrow 
morning  I  will  tie  it  around  his  neck. 

Near  the  root  was  a  little  wren.  I  made  a  stop  to 
watch  him.  He  was  in  a  hurry.  I  thought  he  would 
tip  over.  I  went  in  a  hurry  to  help  him.  Before  I 
was  come  to  the  root  he  was  gone.  And  I  saw  his 
short  tail  no  more. 

When  I  got  to  school,  teacher  was  standing  there 
in  the  door.  She  was  looking  far-off  looks  in  the 
way  that  does  lead  to  the  river.  I  thought  maybe 
she  was  having  dream-thoughts.  I  was  just  going 
to  walk  past  her,  when  she  turned  me  about  for 
inspection.  She  felt  the  outside  of  my  left  apron 
pocket,  but  I  did  n't  bring  my  pet  toad  again  to 
school  this  morning.  I  am  not  going  to  risk  his  life 
again.  Next  time  I  am  going  to  bring  him  to  school 
in  a  pocket  in  my  underskirt. 

Most  all  day  in  school  to-day  I  did  study  from 
the  books  Angel  Mother  and  Angel  Father  did 
make  for  me.  I  did  screwtineyes  the  spell  of  words. 
When  school  was  let  out,  I  went  in  the  way  that 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  73 

does  lead  to  a  grove  where  many  chene  trees  do 
dwell.  I  so  went  to  get  brown  leaves.  After  I  did 
have  a  goodly  number  of  leaves,  I  did  face  about 
in  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  willow  creek. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  log  that  goes  across 
the  creek  I  went  halfway  across.  I  went  not  all 
way  across  because  this  is  the  going-away-day  of 
Henry  I  in  1135,  and  I  did  pause  to  scatter  leaves 
upon  the  waters.  I  let  them  fall  one  by  one.  And 
they  were  sixty-seven,  for  his  years  were  sixty- 
seven. 

Then  I  went  to  bugle  in  the  canyon.  I  did  go  by 
the  pig-pen.  I  went  that  way  to  get  Peter  Paul 
Rubens.  He  does  so  like  to  go  for  walks  in  that 
canyon  of  the  far  woods  when  I  go  to  bugle  there. 
And  I  do  so  like  to  have  him  go.  I  have  thinks  the 
trees  and  the  ferns  and  the  singing  brook  all  have 
gladness  when  Peter  Paul  Rubens  comes  a  while  to 
walk  in  the  woods.  He  does  carry  so  much  joy  with 
him  everywhere  he  goes. 

To-day  near  eventime  we  did  walk  our  way  back 
unto  near  the  cathedral.  We  made  a  stop  there  for 
a  short  prayer  service.  First  I  said  Our  Father, 
and  then  I  said  two  short  prayers;  one  was  a  thank 
prayer,  and  one  was  a  glad  prayer.  As  always, 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  did  grunt  Amen  at  in-between 
times.  Then  he  did  go  his  way  to  the  pig-pen  to 
get  his  supper,  And  I  went  aside  to  see  if  there 
was  any  sheeps  on  the  hillside.  I  saw  not  one.  And 
so  I  come  again  to  the  field.  Elizabeth  Barrett 


74  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Browning  was  at  the  pasture-bars.  There  was 
lonesome  feels  in  her  mooings.  I  went  and  put  my 
arm  around  her  neck.  It  is  such  a  comfort  to  have 
a  friend  near  when  lonesome  feels  do  come. 


CHAPTER  X 

flow  Brave  Horatius  is  Lost  and  Found  again,  but  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  is  Lost  Forever. 

I  HAVE  wonders  where  is  Brave  Horatius.  He 
comes  not  at  my  calling.  Two  days  he  is  now  gone. 
For  him  I  go  on  searches.  I  go  the  three  roads  that 
go  the  three  ways  from  where  they  have  meeting 
in  front  of  the  ranch  house.  On  and  on  I  go.  To 
the  Orne  and  Rille  I  go.  I  go  adown  their  ways.  I 
call  and  call.  Into  the  woods  beyond  the  riviere  — 
into  the  foret  de  Saint-Germain-en-Laye  I  go.  I 
listen.  The  sounds  that  were  in  time  of  summer  are 
not  now.  Brave  Horatius  is  not  there.  I  call  and 
call.  Then  I  come  back  again.  I  go  to  the  house  of 
the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  I  go  on.  I  go  across  the 
fields  of  Auvergne  and  Picardie.  But  I  have  no 
seeing  of  my  Brave  Horatius. 

I  come  back  again.  The  man  that  wears  gray 
neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  —  he  does  keep  watch 
by  the  mill.  But  these  two  days  he  has  had  no 
seeing  of  Brave  Horatius.  I  have  wonders  where 
can  he  be.  Every  time  I  see  the  chore  boy  he  does 
sing,  "There  was  a  little  dog  and  his  name  was 
Rover,  and  when  he  died,  he  died  all  over  —  and  — 
when  —  he  —  died  —  he  —  died  —  all  —  over." 
The  last  part  he  does  wail  in  a  most  long  way.  I 


76  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

have  not  listenings  to  what  that  chore  boys  says. 
I  go  on.  I  pray  on.  I  look  and  I  look  for  Brave 
Horatius.  I  go  four  straight  ways  and  I  come  back 
four  different  ways.  When  I  am  come  I  go  back 
and  forth  by  Jardin  des  Tuileries  and  across  Pont 
Royal  and  adown  the  singing  creek  where  the 
willows  grow.  Lonesome  feels  are  everywhere.  I 
call  and  I  do  call.  And  I  do  go  on  and  on  to  where 
Rhone  flows  around  Camargue. 

I  turn  about  and  I  go  in  the  way  that  does  go  to 
the  foret  de  Montmorency.  I  go  to  the  foret  de 
Montmorency.  No  tree  here  is  a  chataignier.  But 
anyway  I  do  call  it  foret  de  Montmorency,  and 
often  it  is  I  come  here;  here  I  come  with  Brave 
Horatius.  I  went  in  through  and  out  through,  but 
no  answerings  did  come  when  I  did  call.  I  wonder 
where  he  is.  In  the  morning  of  to-day,  when  I  did 
go  that  way,  I  did  meet  with  the  father  of  Lola. 
And  I  did  ask  if  he  had  seen  my  Brave  Horatius. 
He  did  have  no  seeing  of  him,  and  he  did  ask  where 
all  I  was  going  on  searches.  I  did  tell  him  to  Orne 
and  Yonne  and  Rille  and  to  Camargue  and  Picardie 
and  Auvergne  and  to  the  foret  de  Montmorency. 
And  when  I  did  so  tell  him,  he  did  laugh.  Most  all 
the  folks  do  laugh  at  the  names  I  do  call  places  here 
about.  They  most  all  do  .laugh  'cepting  Sadie 
McKibben.  She  smiles  and  smoothes  out  my  curls 
and  says,  "Name  'em  what  ye  are  a  mind  to, 
dearie."  Sadie  McKibben  has  an  understanding 
soul.  She  keeps  watch  out  of  her  window  for  see- 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  77 

ings  of  Brave  Horatius,  and  she  has  promised  me 
she  will  ask  everybody  that  she  does  see  go  by  her 
house  if  they  have  had  seeings  of  Brave  Horatius. 

All  my  friends  do  feel  lonesome  feels  for  Brave 
Horatius.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  hardly  has 
knowing  what  to  do.  And  Peter  Paul  Rubens  did 
have  goings  with  me  three  times  on  searches.  And 
when  I  did  have  stops  to  pray,  he  did  grunt  Amen. 
And  he  would  like  to  have  goings  with  me  on  the 
afternoon  of  to-day.  But  the  pig-pen  fence  —  it 
was  fixed  most  tight;  and  I  could  n't  unfix  it  with 
the  hammer,  so  he  might  have  goings  with  me.  I 
did  start  on.  He  did  grunt  grunts  to  go.  I  did  feel 
more  sad  feels.  I  do  so  like  to  have  him  go  with  me 
on  explores  and  searches.  To-day  I  did  go  on,  and 
then  I  did  come  back  to  give  him  more  good-bye 
pats  on  the  nose  until  I  was  come  again.  So  I  did 
four  times.  I  did  tell  him  when  Brave  Horatius 
was  found  we  would  soon  come  to  his  pen. 

Then  I  went  on.  On  I  went  not  far,  for  the 
mamma  did  call  me  to  come  tend  the  baby.  And  I 
came  again  to  the  house  we  live  in.  When  sleeps 
was  upon  the  baby,  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep,  for  tired 
feels  was  upon  me.  Now  I  feel  not  so.  I  have  been 
making  prints.  The  mamma  is  gone  with  the  baby 
to  the  house  of  Elsie.  I  go  now  again  to  seek  for  my 
Brave  Horatius. 

A  little  way  I  went.  A  long  way  I  went.  When  I 
was  come  part  way  back  again,  I  climbed  upon  the 
old  gray  fence  made  of  rails.  I  walked  adown  it  to 


78  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

the  gate-post  and  there  I  sat.  I  sat  there  until  I 
saw  the  shepherd  bringing  down  the  sheep  from  the 
blue  hills.  When  he  was  come  in  sight,  I  went  up 
the  road  to  meet  him  and  all  the  sheeps.  And  when 
I  was  come  near  unto  them,  I  did  have  seeing  there 
by  the  shepherd's  side  did  abide  my  Brave  Hora- 
tius.  I  was  happy.  I  was  full  of  glad  feels.  Brave 
Horatius  showed  his  glad  feels  in  his  tail  —  and  he 
did  look  fond  looks  at  the  flock  of  sheep.  I  so  did, 
too.  And  in  the  flock  there  was  Bede  of  Jarrow  and 
Alfric  of  Canterbury  and  Alberic  de  Briancon  and 
Felix  of  Croyland.  And  there  was  Cynewulf  and 
Alcuin  and  Orderic  and  Gwian  and  Elidor.  And 
in  the  midst  of  the  flock  there  was  Guy  de  Cavaillon 
and  Raoul  de  Houdenc  and  Edwin  of  Diera  and 
Adamnan  of  lona.  I  did  give  to  each  and  every  one 
a  word  of  greeting  as  I  did  walk  among  the  flock. 
And  there  were  others  that  I  had  not  yet  given 
names  to.  And  last  of  them  all  —  last  of  all  the 
flock  was  Dalian  Forgaill. 

And  when  we  were  come  a  little  way,  the  shep 
herd  did  ask  me  again  what  were  the  names  I  did 
call  his  sheep,  and  I  told  him  all  over  again.  And 
he  did  say  them  after  me.  But  the  ways  he  did  say 
them  were  not  just  the  ways  I  say  them  —  some  of 
them.  And  he  did  ask  me  where  I  did  have  gettings 
of  those  names.  And  I  did  tell  him  I  did  have 
gettings  of  those  names  from  my  two  books  that 
Angel  Mother  and  Angel  Father  did  write  in. 

We  went  on.   Pretty  soon  I  did  tell  him  as  how 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  79 

it  was  while  he  was  gone  away  to  the  blue  hills  I 
did  choose  for  him  another  name.  I  told  him  how 
sometimes  I  did  call  him  by  that  other  name.  He 
did  have  wantings  to  know  what  the  other  name 
was.  I  did  tell  him  this  new  name  I  have  for  him  is 
Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindisfarne.  He  liked  it. 
I  told  him  I  did  too.  We  went  on.  We  did  have 
talks.  When  we  were  come  near  unto  the  lane  I  did 
say,  "Good-bye,  Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindis 
farne.  I  am  glad  you  and  the  flock  are  come."  He 
gave  my  curls  a  smooth  back  and  he  said,  "Good 
bye,  little  one." 

Then  Brave  Horatius  and  I  went  in  a  hurry  in 
the  way  that  does  go  to  the  pig-pen.  When  we  were 
gone  part  ways  I  looked  a  look  back,  and  in  the 
road  there  I  saw  Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindis 
farne  still  watching  us.  Then  we  went  on.  And  we 
were  full  of  gladness  when  we  did  reach  the  pig-pen, 
for  Brave  Horatius  and  Peter  Paul  Rubens  and  I 
—  we  are  friends.  I  did  say  a  long  thank  prayer 
for  that  we  were  together  again.  And  Peter  Paul 
Rubens  did  grunt  Amen. 

I  am  feeling  all  queer  inside.  Yesterday  was 
butchering  day.  Among  the  hogs  they  butchered 
was  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  The  mamma  let  me  go  off 
to  the  woods  all  day,  after  my  morning's  work  was 
done.  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium 
went  with  me  —  a  part  of  the  time  he  perched  on 
my  shoulder,  and  then  he  would  ride  on  the  back  of 


8o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Brave  Horatius.  Felix  Mendelssohn  rode  in  my 
apron  pocket  and  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  fol 
lowed  after. 

We  had  not  gone  far  when  we  heard  an  awful 
squeal  —  so  different  from  the  way  pigs  squeal 
when  they  want  their  supper.  I  felt  cold  all  over. 
Then  I  did  have  knowings  why  the  mamma  had 
let  me  start  away  to  the  woods  without  scolding. 
And  I  ran  a  quick  run  to  save  my  dear  Peter  Paul 
Rubens ;  but  already  he  was  dying  —  and  he  died 
with  his  head  in  my  lap.  I  sat  there  feeling  dead, 
too,  until  my  knees  were  all  wet  with  blood  from 
the  throat  of  my  dear  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  After  I 
changed  my  clothes  and  put  the  bloody  ones  in  the 
rain-barrel,  I  did  go  to  the  woods  to  look  for  the 
soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  I  did  n't  find  it,  but  I 
think  when  comes  the  spring  I  will  find  it  among 
the  flowers  —  probably  in  the  blossom  of  a  faon 
lily  or  in  the  top  of  a  fir  tree.  To-day,  when  Brave 
Horatius  and  I  went  through  the  woods,  we  did 
feel  its  presence  near.  When  I  was  come  back 
from  the  woods,  they  made  me  grind  sausage,  and 
every  time  I  did  turn  the  handle  I  could  hear  that 
little  pain  squeal  Peter  Paul  Rubens  always  gave 
when  he  did  want  me  to  come  where  he  was  at  once. 


CHAPTER  XI 

How  Opal  Took  the  Miller's  Brand  out  of  the  Flour-Sack,  and 
Got  Many  Sore  Feels  thereby;  and  how  Sparks  Come  on 
Cold  Nights;  and  how  William  Shakespeare  Has  Likings 
for  Poems. 

THIS  day,  when  I  was  come  home  from  school,  I 
did  have  much  wood  to  carry  in,  for  cold  days  are 
come.  I  did  make  goes  to  the  wood-shed  to  get  the 
wood.  Going  to  the  wood-shed  I  passed  that  new 
flour-sack  hanging  on  the  clothes-line.  It  was  flap 
ping  in  the  wind.  By  and  by  that  flour-sack  is 
going  to  evolute  into  an  underskirt  for  me  to  wear 
under  my  dress  when  I  go  to  school.  I  got  my  arms 
full  of  wood  —  as  much  as  they  could  hold.  Then 
I  came  into  the  house  to  put  the  wood  into  the  box 
behind  the  stove. 

The  mamma  was  standing  by  the  window.  She 
looked  worry  looks  at  that  new  flour-sack  hanging 
on  the  clothes-line  there.  She  said  she  wished  she 
knew  a  quicker  way  to  get  that  miller's  brand  out 
of  the  flour-sack.  She  put  on  her  fascinator  and 
went  a-visiting.  She  told  me  to  watch  the  baby 
that  was  sleeping  on  the  bed.  While  I  was  carrying 
in  more  sticks  of  wood,  I  tried  to  think  of  a  quicker 
way  to  get  that  miller's  brand  out  of  that  flour-sack 
a-flapping  there  in  the  window. 

When  enough  wood  was  in  and  two  more  loads 


82  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

besides,  I  did  sit  on  the  wood-box.  After  I  did  sit 
still  a  most  long  time,  thinks  did  come  of  a  way.  I 
got  the  scissors  out.  I  got  them  out  of  the  mamma's 
work-basket.  The  time  it  did  take  to  cut  the  mil 
ler's  brand  out  of  the  flour-sack,  it  was  only  a  little 
time.  And  when  it  was  fixed,  I  did  fold  it  in  nice 
folds  with  the  nice  crooks  sticking  out.  The  scissors 
did  make  those  crooks  in  a  nice  way.  Scissors  are 
useful.  I  do  find  much  use  for  them.  But  the 
mamma  likes  not  the  uses  I  find  for  the  scissors. 
She  does  say  I  am  a  new  sance.  I  guess  a  new  sance 
is  something  some  grown-up  people  don't  like  to 
have  around  at  all. 

I  have  wonders  about  things.  I  have  sore  feels 
in  my  heart  and  sore  feels  on  the  back  part  of  me. 
I  so  want  to  be  helps  to  the  mamma.  But  it's  very 
hard.  Why,  to-day  when  I  did  run  to  meet  her,  I 
did  say,  "It's  out.  —  It's  out.  —  I've  got  it  out." 
And  she  looked  no  glad  looks.  She  did  only  look 
looks  about  for  a  hazel  bush.  First  one  she  saw, 
she  did  take  two  limbs  of  it.  All  the  way  to  the  door 
she  made  tingles  on  me  with  them.  I  do  not  think 
she  does  have  knowing  how  they  feel  —  such  queer 
sore  feels.  I  feel  she  would  not  like  their  feels. 

When  we  were  come  to  the  door,  she  did  tell  me 
to  stay  outside.  She  said  I  could  n't  come  into  her 
house.  But  I  did  have  knowing  where  I  could  go. 
I  went  to  talk  with  Good  King  Edward  I  and  lovely 
Eleanor  of  Castile.  I  did  climb  onto  the  lane  fence 
and  into  the  arms  of  lovely  Queen  Eleanor.  I  do 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  83 

so  like  to  be  in  her  arms  when  things  do  trouble  me. 
She  has  understandings.  From  her  arms  I  did  go 
to  hunt  for  the  soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  Lucian 
Horace  Ovid  Virgil  rode  in  my  left  apron  pocket 
and  Nannerl  Mozart  rode  in  my  right  apron  pocket. 
She  is  a  most  shy  mouse  and  does  keep  her  nose 
hid.  As  we  did  go  along,  I  did  gather  gray  leaves. 
Forty-two  gray  leaves  I  did  so  gather. 

Then  we  went  on.  We  went  on  to  the  near  woods. 
I  had  not  findings  to-day  for  the  soul  of  my  dear 
Peter  Paul  Rubens,  but  I  did  tell  the  wind  that  was 
walking  in  the  woods  to  tell  Peter  Paul  Rubens  I 
was  come  a-seeking  for  his  soul.  Then  I  did  turn 
my  face  to  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  cathedral. 
On  the  way  I  met  with  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning 
and  Brave  Horatius  and  Isaiah.  Together  we  did 
go  to  the  cathedral.  We  went  unto  the  little  tree 
that  I  have  planted  there  for  rememberings  of  good 
John  Milton,  for  this  day  is  the  day  of  his  borning 
in  1608.  We  did  have  prayers.  It  was  so  lonesome 
—  Peter  Paul  Rubens  not  being  there  to  grunt 
Amen  at  in-between  times.  Brave  Horatius  came 
near  unto  me  when  prayers  were  most  done.  He 
did  put  his  nose  against  my  hand  for  a  pat.  I 
gave  him  two.  One  was  for  him  and  one  was  for 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  that  was. 

Then  we  all  did  go  in  the  way  that  does  lead  to 
the  singing  creek  where  the  willows  grow.  When 
we  were  come,  all  that  were  with  me  did  stand  very 
close  by.  They  so  did  stand  while  I  did  drop  the 


84  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

gray  leaves  upon  the  water.  All  the  forty-two 
leaves  I  did  gather  I  did  drop  upon  the  water,  for 
this  is  the  day  of  the  going-away  of  Antoine  Van 
Dyck  in  1641.  And  his  years  they  were  forty-two. 
When  the  leaves  were  all  upon  the  water  I  did  say 
a  little  prayer,  and  we  came  home.  It  was  most 
dark-time  and  the  lamp  on  the  kitchen  table  did 
shine  its  light  out  the  window.  And  it  came  down 
the  path  to  meet  us. 

There  were  pictures  on  the  window-panes  when 
I  woke  up  this  morning.  By-and-by  the  fire  in  the 
stove  made  the  room  warm,  and  the  pictures  on 
the  window-panes  went  away.  I  was  sorry  when 
they  went  away.  I  so  did  like  to  look  looks  at 
them. 

When  I  did  have  my  breakfast,  the  mamma  did 
send  me  to  take  a  bucket  of  something  with  eggs 
on  top  it  to  the  ranch-house.  The  outdoors  did 
have  coldness.  It  did  make  my  fingers  to  have 
queer  feels.  And  my  nose  felt  like  I  did  n't  have 
any.  Brave  Horatius  followed  after  me  as  I  did  go 
along.  As  I  did  go  along,  I  did  see  ice  on  the  mud- 
puddles.  Every  now  and  then  I  did  stop  to  break 
the  ice  on  the  mud-puddles.  I  broke  the  ice  to  see 
what  was-  in  the  water.  Under  the  ice  that  was 
over  the  cow-tracks  there  was  no  water  —  only 
dirt,  cold  and  stiff,  with  little  crystals  on  it. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  ranch-house,  the  grand 
ma  did  come  to  the  door,  and  she  took  the  bucket 


THE   STORY  OF   OPAL  85 

of  something  with  eggs  on  top  it,  that  the  mamma 
did  send  to  her.  I  started  on  to  school.  I  did  go  as 
far  as  the  pump.  I  made  a  stop  there.  I  was  going 
to  give  its  handle  some  lift-ups  and  some  pull- 
downs,  so  water  would  come  out.  I  have  likes  to  see 
water  come  out  of  that  pump.  But  to-day  water 
won't  come  out  of  the  pump.  The  pump-handle 
won't  go  up  and  down.  The  grandpa  said  it  froze 
in  the  night.  I  think  it  has  got  the  croup.  I  expect 
it  needs  some  coal-oil.  I  have  thinks  I  must  tend  to 
that  pump  to-night. 

All  day  here  at  school  I  now  do  study.  For  little 
bits  of  times  I  do  study  my  school-book.  But  most 
of  the  time  I  do  study  the  books  Angel  Father  and 
Angel  Mother  did  write  in.  I  do  study  these  most 
every  day  at  school.  I  do  study  the  spell  of  the 
words.  And  after  times  and  before  times  I  do  sing 
the  spelling  of  the  words  to  the  gentle  Jersey  cow 
while  I  do  ride  her  to  pasture.  And  I  sit  in  the 
manger  at  evening-time  and  sing  the  spellings  of 
these  words  to  William  Shakespeare  when  he  is 
come  home  from  work  in  the  woods.  I  have  thinks 
most  of  my  animal  friends  do  have  knowings  of  the 
spellings  of  these  words.  It  so  often  is  I  do  sing 
the  spellings  of  these  words  to  them. 

When  I  did  come  home  from  school  to-night,  I 
did  make  a  stop  at  that  pump  to  see  how  much  coal- 
oil  it  did  need  for  its  croup.  But  it  had  no  needs  to 
be  tended.  The  croup  that  it  did  have  on  this 
morning  was  all  gone.  When  I  did  give  its  handle 


86  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

some  lift-ups  and  some  push-downs,  water  did  come 
out.  I  watched  it.  It  stopped  coming  out  when  I 
did  stop  giving  it  lift-ups  and  push-downs.  I  went 
on.  I  saw  the  black  cat  by  the  barn.  On  cold  nights 
I  have  given  that  cat  long  rubs  on  its  back,  and 
sparks  have  come.  I  did  have  thinks  about  sparky 
things  as  I  did  come  on  home.  Now  I  have  know 
ings  of  these.  Cats  are  sparky  —  black  ones  on  a 
cold  night.  Stoves  are  sparky  on  cold  days.  Rocks 
are  sparky  —  flint  ones  when  you  give  them  a 
thump.  The  chore  boy  says  some  people  are 
sparky.  He  does  n't  know  what  he  is  talking  about. 
When  I  was  come  into  the  house  we  live  in,  I 
gave  the  baby  a  gentle  thump.  It  squawked,  but 
there  were  no  sparks.  Then  the  mamma  came  in 
the  back  door.  She  had  not  knows  why  it  squawked, 
but  she  did  tell  me  to  mind  it.  I  so  did.  The 
mamma  went  out  again  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  When 
she  was  gone,  I  did  sing  to  the  baby  a  new  song  I  did 
make  up  to-day.  Most  every  day  I  do  make  up  a 
song.  I  sing  them  not  when  the  mamma  is  in  the 
house,  for  she  does  give  me  most  hard  spankings 
when  I  do  start  to  sing  them.  To-day  I  did  teeter 
the  baby  on  the  bed  as  she  said.  And  more  I  did. 
I  did  sing  to  her  the  new  song.  I  did  sing  to  her,  — 

"  Maintenant  est  hiver, 
Le  ciel  est  gris, 
Le  champ  est  tranquille, 
Les  fleurs  dorment, 
Maintenant  est  hiver." 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  87 

Then  she  did  kick  many  kicks  in  the  air.  I  did 
tickle  her  toes.  She  likes  to  have  her  toes  tickled. 
She  has  likes  for  it.  This  baby  has  likes  for  many 
things.  She  has  likes  to  sit  up  on  the  bed.  The 
mamma  has  me  to  prop  it  up  so  it  won't  fall  over. 
And  this  baby  —  it  has  likes  to  make  bubbles  with 
its  mouth  and  to  stick  its  foot  in  its  mouth.  It 
does  like  to  rattle  all  the  rattles  the  grandma  and 
Jenny  Strong  and  Elsie  bring  to  it.  It  does  have 
such  likes  to  be  rocked.  And  most  of  the  times 
when  it  is  awake,  it  does  want  to  be  singed  to  and 
carried  about.  It  is  a  baby  what  has  satisfaction 
looks  on  its  face  for  a  little  time  when  it  gets  what 
it  wants.  It  only  has  those  satisfaction  looks  a 
little  time.  Soon  it  does  have  some  more  wants, 
and  it  wants  to  have  what  it  wants.  The  mamma 
does  have  me  to  rock  it  and  rock  it  and  teeter  it  on 
the  bed  and  walk  the  floor  with  it.  Sometimes  it 
does  get  most  heavy.  Then  I  do  let  my  knees  bend 
under  and  I  do  sit  on  the  floor  and  rock  it  back  and 
forth.  The  mamma,  she  does  have  much  likes  for 
it  to  have  what  it  wants. 

I  am  joy  all  over.  I  have  found  in  the  near  woods 
a  plant  that  has  berries  like  the  berries  symphorine 
has.  And  its  leaves  are  like  the  leaves  symphorine 
has.  I  have  had  seeings  of  it  before,  and  every  time 
I  do  meet  with  this  new  old  plant,  I  do  say,  "I  have 
happy  feels  to  see  you,  Symphorine."  And  when 
the  wind  comes  walking  in  the  near  woods,  the 


88  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 


little  leaves  of  symphorine  do  whisper  little  whis 
pers.  I  have  thinks  they  are  telling  me  they  were 
eome  here  before  I  was  come  here.  I  make  a  stop 
to  have  more  listens.  They  do  whisper,  "  See,  petite 
Francoise,  we  were  a  long  time  come."  I  can  see 
they  were,  too,  because  their  toes  have  grown  quite 
a  ways  down  in  the  ground. 

To-day,  as  I  did  walk  a  walk  to  where  they  grow, 
I  did  tell  them  about  the  day  that  it  is.  I  told  them 
all  about  this  being  the  borning  day  of  Jeanne 
d'Albret,  mere  de  Henri  IV,  in  1528.  I  told  the 
year-numbers  on  my  fingers.  I  had  thinks  they 
might  have  remembers  better  if  I  so  told  them  on 
my  fingers.  I  do  have  remembers  of  numbers 
better  when  I  do  tell  them  on  my  fingers.  Brave 
Horatius  did  stand  by  and  listen  while  I  so  told 
them.  We  went  on. 

I  tied  bits  of  bread  on  the  tips  of  the  branches  of 
the  trees.  Too,  I  tied  on  popcorn  kernels.  They 
looked  like  snow-flowers  blooming  there  on  fir 
trees.  I  looked  looks  back  at  them.  I  have  knows 
the  birds  will  be  glad  for  them.  Often  I  do  bring 
them  here  for  them.  When  I  do  have  hungry  feels 
I  feel  the  hungry  feels  the  birds  must  be  having. 
So  I  do  have  comes  to  tie  things  on  the  trees  for 
them.  Some  have  likes  for  different  things.  Little 
gray  one  of  the  black  cap  has  likes  for  suet.  And 
other  folks  has  likes  for  other  things. 

There  is  a  little  box  in  the  woods  that  I  do  keep 
things  for  the  pheasants  and  grouses  and  squirrels 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  89 

and  more  little  birds  and  wood-mouses  and  wood- 
rats.  In  fall-time  days  Peter  Paul  Rubens  did  come 
here  with  me  when  I  did  bring  seeds  and  nuts  to 
this  box  for  days  of  hiver.  When  we  were  come  to 
the  box,  I  did  have  more  thinks  of  him.  I  think  the 
soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens  is  not  afar.  I  think  it  is 
in  the  forest.  I  go  looking  for  it.  I  climb  up  in  the 
trees.  I  call  and  call.  And  then  when  I  find  it  not, 
I  do  print  a  message  on  a  leaf,  and  I^tie  it  onto  the 
highest  limb  I  can  reach.  And  I  leave  it  there  with 
a  little  prayer  for  Peter  Paul  Rubens.  I  do  miss 
him  so. 

To-day,  after  I  so  did  leave  a  message  on  a  leaf 
away  up  in  a  tree  for  him,  I  did  have  going  in  along 
the  lane  and  out  across  the  field  and  down  the  road 
beyond  the  meeting  of  the  roads.  There  was  gray- 
ness  everywhere  —  gray  clouds  in  the  sky  and  gray 
shadows  above  and  in  the  canyon.  And  all  the 
voices  that  did  speak  —  they  were  gray  tones. 
"  Petite  Frangoise,  c'est  jour  gris."  And  all  the  little 
lichens  I  did  see  along  the  way  did  seem  a  very 
part  of  all  the  grayness.  And  Felix  Mendelssohn 
in  my  apron  pocket  —  he  was  a  part  of  the  grayness, 
too.  And  as  I  did  go  adown  the  road,  I  did  meet 
with  a  gray  horse  —  and  his  grayness  was  like  the 
grayness  of  William  Shakespeare.  Then  I  did  turn 
about.  I  did  turn  my  face  to  the  near  woods  where 
is  William  Shakespeare. 

When  Rob  Ryder  is  n't  looking,  I  give  to  William 
Shakespeare  pieces  of  apple  and  I  pull  grass  for  him. 


90  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

He  so  likes  a  nice  bit  to  eat  after  he  does  pull  a  long 
pull  on  the  logs.  And  while  I  do  feed  him  bits  of 
apple  and  bits  of  grass,  I  do  tell  him  poems.  Wil 
liam  Shakespeare  has  likes  for  poems.  And  some 
times  I  do  walk  along  by  him  when  he  is  pulling  in 
logs  and  I  do  tell  the  poems  to  him  while  he  pulls. 
And  I  give  his  head  rubs  when  he  is  tired,  and  his 
back  too.  And  on  some  Sundays  when  he  is  in  the 
pasture  I  go  there  to  talk  with  him.  He  comes  to 
meet  me.  William  Shakespeare  and  I  — we  are 
friends.  His  soul  is  very  beautiful.  The  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  says  he  is  a 
dear  old  horse. 


CHAPTER  XII 

Of  Elsie's  Brand-New  Baby,  and  all  the  Things  that  Go  with 
it;  and  the  Goodly  Wisdom  of  the  Angels  who  Bring  Folks 
Babies  that  Are  like  them. 

ELSIE  has  a  brand-new  baby  and  all  the  things 
that  go  with  it.  There's  a  pink  fleur  on  its  baby 
brush  and  a  pink  bow  on  its  cradle-quilt.  The 
angels  brought  the  baby  just  last  night  in  the  night. 
I  have  been  to  see  it  a  goodly  number  of  times  — 
most  everything  I  did  start  to  do,  I  went  aside 
before  I  did  get  through  doing  it  to  take  peeps  at 
the  darling  baby.  I  so  did  when  I  was  sent  to  feed 
the  chickens,  and  when  I  went  to  carry  in  the  wood, 
and  when  I  went  to  visit  Aphrodite,  and  when  I 
went  to  take  eggs  to  the  folks  that  live  yonder,  and 
when  I  went  to  get  some  soap  at  the  ranch-house, 
and  when  I  went  to  take  a  sugar-lump  to  William 
Shakespeare,  and  when  I  went  to  take  food  to  the 
folks  in  the  hospital,  and  when  I  went  to  the  ranch- 
house  to  get  the  milk.  And  in  the  between  times  I 
did  go  in  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  house  of 
Elsie. 

The  baby  —  it  is  a  beautiful  baby  —  though  it 
does  have  much  redness  of  face  from  coming  such 
a  long  way  in  the  cold  last  night.  Maybe  it  was 
the  coldness  of  the  night  that  did  cause  the  angels 
to  make  the  mistake.  They  stopped  at  the  wrong 


92  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

house.  I  'm  quite  sure  this  is  the  very  baby  I  have 
been  praying  for  the  angels  to  bring  to  the  new 
young  folks  that  do  live  by  the  mill  by  the  far 
woods.  Dear  Love,  her  young  husband  does  call 
her.  And  they  are  so  happy.  But  they  have  been 
married  seven  whole  months  and  have  n't  got  a 
baby  yet.  Twice  every  day  for  a  time  long  I  have 
been  praying  prayers  for  the  angels  to  bring  them 
one  real  soon.  And  most  all  day  to-day  I  did  feel 
I  better  tell  Elsie  as  how  this  baby  is  n't  her  baby, 
before  she  does  get  too  fond  of  it.  She  so  likes  to 
cuddle  it  now.  Both  morning  and  afternoon  I  did 
put  off  going  to  tell  her  about  it.  I  did  wait  most 
until  eventime.  Then  I  could  n't  keep  still  any 
longer.  I  felt  I  would  just  have  to  speak  to  her 
about  it  at  once. 

I  did  have  knowings  that  Mrs.  Limberger,  that 
was  staying  with  Elsie  until  the  other  woman  was 
come  back,  would  n't  let  me  come  in  the  door  to 
see  the  baby  again  because  she  has  opinions  that 
nineteen  times  is  fully  enough  to  be  a-coming  to 
see  a  baby  on  the  first  day  of  its  life  on  earth.  So  I 
went  and  got  a  wood-box  off  the  back  porch,  and 
I  did  go  around  to  the  bedroom  window.  I  did  get 
on  top  the  wood-box  and  I  made  tappings  on  the 
window-pane.  Elsie  did  have  hearings.  She  did 
turn  her  head  on  the  pillow.  And  she  gave  nods  for 
me  to  come  in.  I  pushed  the  window  a  push  enough 
so  I  could  squeeze  in.  Then  I  sidled  over  to  the  bed. 

Elsie  did  look  so  happy  with  the  baby.    I  did 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  93 

swallow  a  lump  in  my  throat.  She  looked  kind 
smiles  at  me.  I  did  not  like  to  bring  disturbs  to  her 
calm.  I  just  stood  there  making  pleats  in  my  blue 
calico  apron.  I  did  have  thinks  of  Dear  Love  and 
the  house  without  a  baby  by  the  mill  by  the  far 
woods.  Then  I  felt  I  could  n't  wait  any  longer.  I 
just  said,  "I  know  you  are  going  to  have  a  disap 
point,  Elsie,  but  I  have  got  to  tell  you  —  this  baby 
isn't  yours.  It's  a  mistake.  It  really  belongs  to 
Dear  Love  in  that  most  new,  most  little  house  by 
the  mill  by  the  far  woods.  It's  the  one  I've  been 
praying  the  Angels  to  bring  to  her." 

Just  when  I  was  all  out  of  breath  from  telling 
her,  there  did  come  the  heavy  step  of  Mrs.  Lim- 
berger's  approaches.  Elsie  did  say  in  a  gentle  way, 
"  Come  to  me  early  in  the  morning  and  we  will  talk 
the  matter  over."  Then  I  did  go  out  the  window. 

From  the  house  of  Elsie  I  did  go  to  talk  with 
Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael.  He  does  so 
understand.  All  troubles  that  do  trouble  me,  I  do 
talk  them  over  with  him.  While  I  was  telling  him 
all  about  how  the  angels  did  make  a  mistake  and 
did  bring  Dear  Love's  baby  to  the  house  of  Elsie, 
I  did  hear  a  little  voice.  It  was  a  baby  voice.  It 
did  come  from  the  barn.  I  went  in  to  see.  It  was  n't 
in  the  haystack.  It  seemed  to  come  from  a  way 
below.  I  slid  down  to  the  manger  of  the  gentle 
Jersey  cow.  I  thought  she  was  in  the  pasture,  but 
there  she  was  in  the  barn.  And  with  her  was  a  dear 
new  baby  calf.  When  I  did  ask  the  ranch  folks 


94  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

when  it  was  brought,  they  did  say  it  was  brought 
in  the  night  last  night.  I  have  thinks  the  same 
angel  that  did  bring  the  new  baby  to  the  house  of 
Elsie  did  bring  also  in  her  other  arm  that  baby  calf 
to  the  gentle  Jersey  cow.  To-night  I  will  pick  it  out 
a  name  from  the  books  Angel  Mother  and  Angel 
Father  did  write  in.  Early  in  the  morning  I  will 
go  again  to  the  house  of  Elsie. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  to-day  I  did  go  in  the 
way  that  does  lead  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  I  did  rap 
gentle  raps  on  the  door,  and  the  young  husband  of 
Elsie  did  come  to  raise  the  latch.  When  the  door 
did  come  open,  I  did  have  seeing  that  his  black 
pumpadoor  did  seem  to  shine  more  than  most 
times,  and  all  the  vaseline  was  gone  from  the  jar 
that  sets  on  the  kitchen  shelf.  I  did  tell  him  how 
Elsie  did  say  for  me  to  come  early  in  this  morning. 
And  before  he  did  have  time  for  answers,  Elsie  did 
have  hearing  in  the  other  room.  She  did  call.  She 
did  call  me  to  come  in. 

In  I  went.  The  baby  it  was  beside  her.  It  was 
all  wrapped  in  a  blanket  so  it  could  n't  even  have 
seeings  out  the  window  how  the  raindrops  was 
coming  down  so  fast.  The  young  husband  of  Elsie 
did  look  fond  looks  at  that  blanket.  I  did  begin  to 
have  fears  he  did  have  thinks  it  was  his  baby. 
Elsie  did  unwrap  the  blanket  from  its  red  face. 
It's  just  as  red  as  it  was  yesterday,  though  the 
rain  coming  makes  the  weather  more  warm.  Elsie 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  95 

did  say,  "See  its  long  hair."  And  I  did  have  seeing. 
It  was  n't  long  though,  not  more  than  an  inch.  It 
was  most  black.  And  its  eyes  —  they  were  dark. 
It  did  have  prefers  to  keep  them  shut.  When  I 
did  see  them,  Elsie  did  say,  "Now  about  what  we 
were  talking  about  yesterday  —  next  time  you  go 
to  the  house  of  Dear  Love,  have  seeing  of  the  color 
of  her  eyes  and  hair  and  also  of  her  husband's. 
I  hardly  think  this  baby's  hair  and  eyes  are  like 
theirs.  And  maybe  it  is  where  it  does  belong."  "I 
feel  sure  about  that,"  said  her  young  husband.  But 
I  had  not  feels  so. 

Just  then  the  mamma  did  holler  for  me  to  come 
home  to  bring  wood  in.  I  so  come.  Now  she  does 
have  me  mind  the  baby.  I  do  print. 

When  sleeps  was  come  upon  the  mamma's  baby, 
I  straightway  did  go  in  a  hurry  to  the  house  of 
Dear  Love  by  the  mill  by  the  far  woods.  All  the 
way  along  the  raindrops  were  coming  in  a  hurry 
down.  Many  of  them  did  say,  "Petite  Fran^oise 
too.  I  wonder,  I  wonder."  When  I  was  come  to 
the  house  of  Dear  Love,  she  was  there  and  he  was 
there.  Her  eyes  were  light  blue,  and  her  hair,  it  was 
very  light.  Most  cream  hair  she  has  got.  And  her 
husband  that  does  call  her  Dear  Love  —  his  eyes 
they  are  blue,  and  he  has  red  hair.  I  saw.  And  I 
was  going  right  back  because  I  did  feel  sad  feels. 
Dear  Love,  she  did  lead  me  back  into  her  house  and 
did  have  me  to  sit  on  a  chair.  I  sat  on  its  corner. 
And  I  felt  lumps  come  up  in  my  throat.  She  did 


96  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

take  off  my  fascinator,  and  she  did  take  off  my 
shoes  so  my  feet  would  get  dry. 

Then  she  did  take  me  on  her  lap  and  she  did  ask 
me  what  was  the  matter.  And  I  just  did  tell  her  all 
about  it  —  all  about  how  I  had  been  praying  for 
the  angels  to  bring  a  baby  real  soon  to  them  —  and 
how  sad  feels  I  did  feel  because  they  did  n't  have 
a  baby  yet.  Her  husband  did  smile  a  quiet  smile  at 
her,  and  roses  did  come  on  her  cheeks.  And  I  did 
have  thinks  that  they  did  have  thinks  that  this 
baby  the  angels  did  bring  to  the  house  of  Elsie  was 
their  baby.  Then  I  did  give  them  careful  explana 
tions  as  how  I  too  did  have  thinks  it  was  their 
baby  the  angels  did  bring  to  the  house  of  Elsie,  that 
I  did  pray  for  them  to  have  real  soon.  And  as  how 
I  did  have  thinks  so  yesterday  and  last  night  and 
right  up  until  now,  when  I  did  come  to  their  house 
and  have  seeings  of  their  blue  eyes  and  his  having 
red  hair.  I  did  tell  them  as  how  this  baby  could  n't 
be  theirs,  because  it  has  most  dark  hair  and  dark 
eyes  —  like  the  eyes  and  the  hair  of  the  young 
husband  of  Elsie. 

Angels  do  have  a  big  amount  of  goodly  wisdom. 
They  do  bring  to  folks  babies  that  are  like  them. 
To  mother  sheeps  they  do  bring  lambs.  To  mother 
horse  they  do  bring  a  poulain.  To  mother  bats  they 
bring  twin  bats.  To  a  mother  mouse  they  do  bring 
a  baby  mulot  and  some  more  like  it  —  all  at  the 
same  time.  To  mere  daine  they  do  bring  a  baby 
faon.  To  the  gentle  Jersey  cow  they  did  bring  a 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  97 

baby  calf,  with  creamness  and  brownness  upon  it 
like  the  creamness  and  brownness  that  is  upon 
the  gentle  Jersey  cow.  Angels  do  have  a  goodly 
amount  of  wisdom.  They  do  bring  to  folks  babies 
that  do  match  them.  And  after  I  did  tell  them  that, 
I  did  have  telling  them  as  how,  being  as  this  baby 
did  n't  have  eyes  and  hair  to  match  theirs,  it 
could  n't  be  their  baby.  But  I  did  tell  them  not  to 
have  disappoints  too  bad,  because  I  am  going  to 
pray  on  —  and  maybe  she  will  get  a  baby  next 
week. 

When  I  did  say  that,  her  young  husband  did 
walk  over  to  the  window  and  look  long  looks  out. 
I  have  thinks  he  was  having  wonders  if  two  or 
three  angels  would  be  coming  with  the  angel  that 
will  be  bringing  their  baby,  and  if  the  cradle-quilt 
they  bring  with  it  will  have  a  blue  bow  or  a  pink 
bow  on  it  and  if  its  baby  brush  will  have  blue  fleurs 
or  pink  fleurs  on  it.  I  have  wonders.  I  think  blue 
fleurs  on  its  baby  brush  and  a  blue  bow  on  its 
cradle-quilt  will  look  nicer  with  red  hair  than  pink 
fleurs  and  a  pink  bow.  I  have  thinks  I  better  put 
that  in  my  prayers. 

By-and-by,  when  my  feets  were  dry,  they  did 
put  my  shoes  on  and  they  lace.d  them  up.  They 
did  n't  miss  a  string-hole  like  I  do  sometimes  when 
I  am  in  a  hurry  to  get  them  tied  up.  Then,  when 
they  did  have  them  tied  up,  they  did  want  me  to 
stay  to  dinner;  but  I  did  have  feels  I  must  hurry 
back  to  the  house  of  Elsie  and  tell  her  that  the  baby 


98  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

was  hers.  She  might  be  having  anxious  feels  about 
it.  When  I  did  say  good-bye  they  did  give  me  two 
apples  —  one  for  William  Shakespeare  and  one  for 
Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning.  And  they  did  give  me 
some  cheese  for  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus 
and  corn  for  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  And  they 
came  a  long  way  with  me. 

Then  I  did  go  on  in  hurry  steps  to  the  house  of 
Elsie.  As  quick  as  her  young  husband  did  open 
the  door,  I  did  walk  right  in,  for  I  did  have  thinks 
maybe  she  did  have  some  very  anxious  feels  while 
I  was  gone.  She  smiled  glad  smiles  when  I  told  her 
it  was  hers.  It  must  have  been  an  immense  amount 
of  relief  —  her  now  knowing  it  really  was  her  own 
baby.  And  when  I  did  turn  around  to  tell  her  young 
husband  it  was  theirs,  her  young  husband,  he  just 
said,  "I  knew  it  was  mine."  And  he  looked  more 
fond  looks  at  the  blanket  it  was  wrapped  in.  I  have 
feels  now  it  is  nice  for  them  to  have  it;  and  it  is 
good  that  they  will  not  have  needs  to  give  it  up  — 
being  as  it  matches  them.  Angels  do  have  a  goodly 
amount  of  wisdom.  This  is  a  wonderful  world  to 
live  in. 

When  I  did  say  good-bye  to  Elsie  and  the  charm- 
ante  baby,  I  did  go  to  the  barn  where  is  the  gentle 
Jersey  cow  and  the  baby  calf  that  does  match  her. 
That  baby  calf  I  have  named  Mathilde  Plantage- 
net.  I  have  named  her  so  for  Mathilde  that  was 
daughter  of  Roi  Henri  I  and  Mathilde  that  was 
daughter  of  Sainte  Marguerite  that  was  reine 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  99 

d'Ecosse.  Mathilde  Plantagenet  is  her  name  be 
cause  the  name  of  the  man  Mathilde  did  marry, 
it  was  Geoffroi  Plantagenet.  And  too  in  days  of 
summer  the  genet  fleur  grows  near  unto  here.  I 
have  had  seeings  of  them  by  waters  that  flow  by 
the  mill  town.  And  when  their  bloom  time  is  come, 
I  will  make  for  Mathilde  Plantagenet  a  guirlande 
of  les  fieurs  de  genet.  And  we  will  go  walking  down 
the  lane. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

How  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  Go 
for  a  Ride;  William  Shakespeare  Suffers  One  Whipping 
and  Opal  Another. 

ON  the  way  home  from  school  to-night  I  did 
meet  with  Sadie  McKibben,  and  it  was  very  nice  to 
see  her  freckles.  And  she  wore  her  blue  gingham 
apron  with  cross  stitches  on  it.  First  when  we  were 
met  she  did  kiss  me  on  each  cheek.  Then  she  was 
going  to  shake  hands  with  me,  but  I  could  not 
shake  hands  with  her  with  my  right  hand  because 
Louis  II,  le  Grande  Conde,  was  asleep  in  my  sleeve. 
I  had  fears  shaking  hands  with  my  right  hand 
would  disturb  his  calm.  So  I  gave  explanations. 
And  Sadie  McKibben  did  have  understanding.  She 
gave  me  a  kiss  on  my  nose  and  smoothed  back  my 
curls  and  shook  hands  with  my  left  hand. 

When  she  so  did,  Felix  Mendelssohn  did  poke 
his  nose  out  the  cuff.  He  made  a  quick  run  up  my 
arm  and  settled  down  on  my  shoulder.  He  is  a  very 
quick-moving  mouse.  Sadie  McKibben  did  see  the 
movement  his  moving  did  make  on  my  sleeve.  She 
asked  me  if  that  was  all  my  friends  I  did  take  to 
school  to-day.  Then  I  lifted  up  my  apron  and  I 
did  show  her  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil.  He  was 
riding  in  a  pocket  in  my  underskirt.  She  did  have 
wantings  to  know  why  it  was  that  I  was  not  carry- 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  101 

ing  him  in  my  apron  pocket  as  I  use  to  do.  I  told 
her  I  did  not  so  now,  for  teacher  does  feel  of  my 
apron  pockets  when  I  do  come  into  school  in  the 
morning;  so  I  carry  my  friends  in  my  sleeves  and  in 
pockets  in  my  underskirt. 

Sadie  McKibben  did  have  understanding.  And 
she  did  say  she  thought  she  would  have  to  be 
getting  me  a  little  basket  to  carry  them  in.  She 
said  she  was  going  to  speak  to  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  about  the  matter. 
I  have  thinks  to  be  carried  in  a  warm  basket  will 
please  the  souls  of  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  and 
Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil 
and  all  the  little  folk  that  do  go  walking  with  me. 
It  will  be  almost  as  nice  as  to  ride  in  the  pockets  of 
the  papa's  big  coat.  I  have  thinks  I  will  have  needs 
to  put  pockets  in  that  basket  and  divides  so  there  in 
it  will  be  little  rooms,  little  rooms  for  all  the  folks  of 
the  nursery.  I  will  let  them  have  their  turns  riding 
to  school  in  the  basket.  And  there  is  enough  room 
in  my  seat  so  that  basket  can  set  right  beside  me. 
I  can  hardly  wait  waits  until  I  do  have  that  basket. 

When  Sadie  McKibben  did  kiss  me  good-bye,  she 
gave  me  a  sugar-lump  for  William  Shakespeare  and 
a  piece  of  cheese  for  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  and  a  bone  for  Brave  Horatius  and  ten  corn- 
seeds  for  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  She  does  have 
knowings  of  the  likings  of  my  friends.  Then  she 
went  her  way,  and  I  did  come  my  way  home  to  the 
house  we  live  in. 


102  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

When  I  was  come,  first  I  did  feed  the  chickens. 
And  then  I  did  go  to  carry  in  the  wood.  It  was 
while  I  was  carrying  in  wood  that  Rob  Ryder  came 
to  borrow  a  hammer.  I  have  n't  been  near  unto 
where  he  has  been  since  I  did  bite  his  hand  the 
other  day.  And  to-day  the  mamma  tried  to  make 
me  say  to  that  Rob  Ryder  how  sorry  I  was  because 
I  bit  him  on  the  hand.  But  I  was  n't  a  bit  sorry. 
And  I  would  n't  say  I  was  sorry.  And  if  I  got  a 
chance  I'd  bite  him  again  for  his  laying  that  big 
whip  to  the  back  of  William  Shakespeare  when  he 
does  n't  pull  logs  fast  enough.  I  know  my  William 
Shakespeare  and  I  know  how  hard  he  pulls  to  pull 
those  logs.  To  pull  those  logs  he  does  his  very  best. 

And  when  he  was  gone  away  the  mamma  did 
spank  me  most  hard  with  the  hair-brush.  Then  she 
put  me  out  the  door.  And  I  did  go  from  the  house 
we  do  live  in  to  where  do  dwell  King  Edward  III 
and  Queen  Philippa  of  Hainault.  They  are  grand 
trees.  We  are  friends.  Often  it  is  I  go  to  where 
they  dwell  when  the  mamma  does  put  me  out  of 
the  house.  To-day  I  did  stay  long  with  them  and 
I  did  talk  long  with  them.  Mostly  it  was  about  the 
lovely  England  when  they  were  there,  we  did  have 
talks  about  to-day.  And  the  wind  was  talking  too. 
I  think  the  wind  does  have  knowing  of  this  being 
their  wedding  day  in  1328.  As  he  did  come  near 
unto  where  they  dwell,  he  did  walk  among  the 
willows  by  the  singing  creek.  And  I  did  climb  down 
from  the  arms  of  Queen  Philippa  of  Hainault  and 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  103 

go  to  gather  water-cress  for  the  mamma.   She  does 


have  such  a  fondness  for  it. 

Then  I  did  say  good-bye,  and  I  did  say  good-bye 
to  all  those  twelve  trees  growing  near  unto  them. 
And  all  those  twelve  trees  that  do  grow  near  unto 
King  Edward  III  and  Queen  Philippa  of  Hainault 
—  those  twelve  trees  are  their  twelve  children. 
The  tree  most  near  unto  Edward  III,  that  is 
Edward  Prince  of  Wales;  and  the  one  next  unto 
him  is  Lionel  Duke  of  Clarence;  and  the  one  most 
near  unto  him,  that  is  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of 
Lancaster.  The  time  was  when  there  were  only 
ten  trees  growing  there,  and  I  did  have  needs  to 
plant  two  more.  Two  little  ones  I  did  plant,  and 
one  is  for  baby  Blanche  and  one  is  for  baby  William, 
the  other  one. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

How  Opal  Feels  Satisfaction  Feels,  and  Takes  a  Ride  on 
William  Shakespeare;  and  all  that  Came  of  it. 

AFTER  I  did  dish-towel  all  the  dishes  that  we  did 
use  in  the  breakfast  meal,  the  mamma  did  send  me 
to  get  barks  for  the  warming  stove.  While  I  was 
getting  barks  I  did  stop  to  screwtineyes  the  plump 
wiggles  that  were  in  and  under  all  the  barks.  Those 
plump  wiggles  will  grow  and  change.  They  will 
grow  and  change  into  beetles.  I  have  seen  them  do 
so.  I  have  taken  them  from  the  bark  and  they  did 
so  grow  into  beetles  —  after  some  long  time.  In 
the  nursery  I  kept  them  while  they  did  so  change. 

After  the  barks  was  in  I  did  go  my  way  to  school. 
I  went  aside  to  Saint  Firmin  by  Nonette.  I  made 
a  stop  where  the  willows  grow.  I  love  to  touch 
fingers  with  the  willows.  Then  I  do  feel  the  feels 
the  willows  feel.  I  did  tell  them  all  and  every  one 
about  this  being  the  going-away  day  of  Charle 
magne  in  814  and  the  borning  day  of  Henry  VII  in 
1457.  Each  pussy-willow  baby  did  wear  a  gray  silk 
tricot.  He  did  look  warm.  He  smiled,  "Bonjour, 
petite  Frangoise,"  in  a  friendly  way.  I  think  he 
does  remember  the  days  in  summer  when  I  did 
drink  in  inspirations  dabbling  my  toes  by  his  toes 
there  in  the  singing  brook. 

When  I  did  have  talks  with  them  for  a  little 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  105 

time,  I  did  go  on.  And  all  along  I  stopped  very 
often  on  the  way  to  talk  to  the  other  pussy-willows. 
I  was  quite  late  to  school.  Teacher  made  me  stand 
in  the  corner  to  get  my  lesson  with  my  face  to  the 
wall.  I  did  n't  mind  that  at  all.  There  was  a  win 
dow  in  that  part  of  the  wall.  It  was  near  the  corner. 
I  looked  looks  at  my  book  sometimes.  Most  of  the 
times  I  looked  looks  out  the  window.  I  had  seeing 
of  little  plant  folks  just  peeping  out  of  the  earth  to 
see  what  they  could  see.  I  did  have  thinks  it  would 
be  nice  to  be  one  of  them,  and  then  grow  up  and 
have  a  flower  and  bees  a-coming  and  seed-children 
at  fall-time.  I  have  thinks  this  is  a  very  interest 
world  to  live  in.  There  is  so  much  to  see  out  the 
window  when  teacher  does  have  one  to  stand  in  the 
corner  to  study  one's  lesson. 

When  teacher  did  send  me  to  my  seat  to  get  my 
slate  for  arithmetic,  I  did  put  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  in  my  desk  by  my  Cyr's  Reader.  I  keep  my 
books  in  one  little  corner  of  my  desk,  and  that  does 
leave  a  lot  of  room  for  my  animal  friends.  There 
was  room  enough  for  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  to 
take  little  nice  hops.  But  while  I  was  having  recites 
with  arithmetic,  he  hopped  a  little  hop  too  far  and 
he  fell  out  of  my  desk.  I  had  quivers,  and  it  was 
hard  to  pay  attentions  to  arithmetic.  When  our 
lessons  were  done  I  made  a  quick  go  to  my  seat.  I 
looked  a  look  under  for  him.  He  was  not  there.  I 
looked  more  looks  about.  He  was  rows  away  over 
by  the  seat-row  where  Lola  has  her  sitting.  I  did 


106  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

almost  sit  sideways  in  my  seat,  I  had  such  anxious 
feels  about  him. 

Lola  had  seeing.  She  made  a  reach  over.  She 
picked  him  up  in  a  gentle  way.  She  put  him  in  her 
apron  pocket.  She  made  a  begin  to  study  her 
geography.  She  asked  teacher  if  she  might  get  a 
drink  from  the  dipper  in  the  wrap-room.  She  went. 
She  made  a  come-back  from  the  wrap-room  down 
our  row,  going  to  her  geography  class.  When  she 
went  by  my  desk,  she  put  her  hand  in  my  pocket. 
She  went  on  to  the  recite  bench.  Lucian  Horace 
Ovid  Virgil  was  back  again  in  my  apron  pocket.  I 
felt  an  immense  amount  of  satisfaction  feels. 

Some  days  there  is  cream  to  be  shaked  into  but 
ter.  The  mamma  does  have  me  to  make  a  handle 
go  up  and  down  a  lot  of  times  in  the  churn.  This 
makes  the  butter  come.  When  there  is  only  a  little 
cream  to  be  shaked  into  butter,  then  the  mamma 
has  me  to  shake  it  to  and  fro  in  a  glass  jar.  Some 
times  it  gets  awfully  heavy  and  my  arms  do  get 
ache  feels  up  and  down.  There  are  most  ache  feels 
when  the  butter  is  a  long  time  in  coming.  It  so  was 
to-day.  I  gave  it  many  shakes,  and  I  was  having 
hopes  it  soon  would  be  come.  After  some  long  time, 
when  it  was  most  come,  the  lid  came  off  and  it  all 
shaked  out.  Then  the  mamma  did  have  cross  feels 
and  the  spanks  she  gave  made  me  to  have  sore 
feels  on  the  back  part  of  me.  I  was  making  tries  to 
be  helps  to  her.  That  butter  was  almost  come. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  107 

After  I  did  give  the  floor  washes  and  mops  up 
where  the  splashes  of  buttermilk  did  jump,  then 
the  mamma  put  me  out  the  door  and  told  me  to 
get  out  and  stay  out  of  her  way.  I  so  did.  I  went 
out  across  the  field  and  in  along  the  lane.  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium  had  going  with  me.  I  looked 
looks  away  to  the  meeting  of  the  roads.  There  was 
a  horse  come  near  unto  it.  A  man  was  riding  on 
this  horse.  I  like  to  ride  upon  a  horse.  I  like  to 
stand  up  when  I  ride  upon  a  horse.  It  is  so  much 
joy.  I  feel  the  feels  the  horse  does  feel  when  he  puts 
each  foot  to  the  ground. 

When  I  did  see  that  horse  go  on  and  on,  then  I 
did  have  feels  it  would  be  nice  to  go  a  long  way  on 
explores.  I  did  have  thinks  William  Shakespeare 
had  wants  to  go.  He  was  in  the  lane.  I  gave  him 
pats  on  the  nose  and  I  talked  with  him  about  it. 
We  did  start  on.  When  we  were  come  to  the  end  of 
the  lane  there  was  the  gate.  It  did  take  some  long 
time  to  get  it  open.  The  plug  did  stick  so  tight  and 
more  yet.  I  did  pull  and  I  made  more  pulls.  It 
came  out.  It  did  come  out  in  a  quick  way.  I  did 
have  a  quick  set-down.  I  got  up  in  a  slow  way.  I 
did  show  William  Shakespeare  the  way  to  go  out 
the  gate.  He  went,  I  went.  We  went  adown  the 
road.  A  little  way  we  went  and  we  were  come  to  a 
stump.  I  made  a  climb  upon  it.  From  the  stump  I 
did  climb  upon  the  back  of  William  Shakespeare. 

We  went  on.  When  we  were  come  to  the  meeting 
of  the  roads,  we  went  the  way  of  the  road  that  goes 


io8  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

to  the  upper  camps.  We  made  no  stops  until  we 
were  come  to  where  a  long  time  ago  the  road  had  a 
longing  to  go  across  the  riviere,  and  some  men  that 
had  understanding  made  it  a  bridge  to  go  across  on. 
When  we  were  come  to  the  bridge,  we  made  a  stop 
and  I  did  sing  to  the  riviere  a  song.  I  sang  it  Le 
chant  de  Seine,  de  Havre,  et  Essonne  et  Nonette  et 
Roullon  et  lion  et  Darnetal  et  Ourcq  et  Rille  et 
Loing  et  Eure  et  Audelle  et  Nonette  et  Sarc.  I  sang 
it  as  Angel  Father  did  teach  me  to,  and  as  he  has 
wrote  it  in  the  book. 

And  after  I  did  sing  it  all,  we  did  watch  the 
water  splash  itself  against  the  legs  of  the  bridge. 
The  water  goes  not  now  slow  as  it  did  in  summer 
days.  We  went  on.  And  the  boards  of  the  bridge 
did  make  squeaks  as  we  went  across.  And  they 
said  in  their  squeaks,  "Petite  Fran^oise,  we  have 
been  waiting  a  long  time  for  you  to  go  across  the 
riviere."  And  I  did  have  William  Shakespeare  to 
make  a  little  stop  so  I  could  tell  the  boards  I  have 
been  waiting  waits  a  long  time  to  go  across.  While 
I  so  was  doing,  they  did  not  squeak.  When  we 
made  a  start  to  go  on,  they  did  squeak. 

After  we  were  across  the  riviere  we  went  in  a 
more  slow  way.  There  was  so  many  things  to  see. 
Trees  and  trees  were  all  along  the  way.  There  were 
more  ranch-houses.  I  did  have  seeing  of  them  set 
always  back  from  the  road,  and  smoke  did  come  in 
curls  from  out  their  chimneys.  At  a  bend  in  the 
road  there  was  a  big  chene  tree  —  it  was  a  very  big 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  109 

one.  On  its  arms  there  was  bunches  of  mistletoe.  I 
made  a  stop  to  have  looks  at  them.  I  had  thinks  I 
might  reach  up  to  them.  I  stood  on  tiptoe  on  the 
back  of  William  Shakespeare.  I  could  reach  a  reach 
to  one  limb.  I  put  my  arms  around  it  and  had  a 
swing.  It  was  very  nice  to  swing  one  forward  and 
two  back  again. 

But  when  I  was  ready  to  stand  on  William 
Shakespeare  again,  he  was  not  there.  I  looked  a 
look  down  and  about.  He  was  gone  on  a  little  way. 
I  had  wonders  what  to  do.  There  was  most  too 
many  rocks  to  drop  down  on.  Lars  Porsena  came 
and  perched  on  the  limb  above.  I  did  call  William 
Shakespeare  four  times,  and  in  between  I  called 
him  by  the  bird-call  that  does  mean  I  have  needs  of 
him.  He  did  come  and  he  made  a  stop  under  the 
limb.  I  was  most  glad.  My  arms  did  have  a  queer 
feel  from  hanging  there.  I  was  real  glad  just  to  sit 
quiet  on  the  back  of  William  Shakespeare  while  he 
did  walk  on.  And  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  did  sit 
behind  me. 

We  went  on.  We  had  seeing  of  the  section  men 
working  on  the  railroad  track  where  the  dinky 
engine  goes  with  the  cars  of  lumbers  to  the  mill 
town.  They  were  making  stoop-overs.  I  had  seeing 
they  did  screwtineyes  the  rails  and  the  ties  they 
stay  upon.  The  men  did  wave  their  hands  to  us, 
and  I  did  wave  back,  and  on  the  fence  there  was  a 
bird  with  a  yellow  and  a  little  black  moon  across 
his  front.  His  back  —  it  was  like  the  grasses  of  the 


no  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

field  grown  old.  And  his  song  is  the  song  of  all  the 
voices  of  the  field.  We  have  seeing  of  him  and  his 
brothers  all  days  of  the  year. 

After  we  had  going  past  the  next  turn  in  the  road 
I  did  look  a  look  back.  A  little  bush  with  some 
tallness  was  yet  a-nodding.  It  was  asking  a  ques 
tion.  I  gave  William  Shakespeare  two  pats  on  the 
shoulder.  That  means  turn  about.  He  did.  When 
we  were  come  to  the  bush  a-nodding,  I  leaned  over 
to  the  tallness  of  it.  I  put  my  ear  close  so  I  could 
have  hearing.  It  had  wants  to  know  what  day  this 
was.  I  did  tell  it  this  day  was  the  going-away  day 
of  John  of  Gaunt  and  the  borning  day  of  Felix 
Mendelssohn  in  1809.  It  had  hearings,  but  it  did 
not  stop  nodding.  But  it  was  asking  no  questions. 
It  was  nodding  nods  of  the  day  this  is.  I  felt  the 
satisfaction  feels  it  did  feel  when  it  did  know  the 
answer  to  its  question.  I  do  too  have  likes  to  ask 
questions  about  things  so  to  have  knows. 

We  went  on  in  a  slow  way.  I  did  look  looks  about. 
And  there  were  birds  —  robins  and  two  bluebirds 
and  more  larks  of  the  meadow  and  other  crows 
like  unto  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  When  we  was 
come  to  another  bend  in  the  road,  William  Shake 
speare  made  a  stop.  I  made  a  slide  off.  I  went  to 
pick  him  some  grass.  A  wagon  went  by.  Two 
horses  were  in  front  of  it,  and  on  its  high  seat  was  a 
man  with  his  hat  on  sideways  and  a  woman  with 
a  big  fascinator  most  hiding  her  face.  There  was 
seven  children  in  the  wagon  —  two  with  sleeps  upon 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  in 

them  and  a  'little  girl  with  a  tam-o'-shanter  and  a 
frown  and  a  cape  on  her.  I  have  thinks  from  the 
looks  on  their  faces  they  all  did  have  wants  to  get 
soon  to  where  they  were  going  to.  I  brought  the 
grass  back  to  the  road  to  William  Shakespeare.  I 
smiled  a  smile  and  waved  to  the  last  little  girl  of  all 
on  the  wagon.  She  smiled  and  waved  her  hand. 
Then  three  more  of  them  waved.  I  waved  some 
more.  The  wagon  had  its  going  on,  and  William 
Shakespeare  had  begins  to  nibble  at  the  grass  I  was 
holding  in  my  lingers.  While  he  did  nibble  nibbles 
I  did  tell  him  poems.  William  Shakespeare  does 
have  such  a  fondness  for  poetry  and  nibbles  of 
grass  and  apples  and  sugar-lumps. 

While  we  did  have  waiting  at  the  bend  of  the 
road,  I  saw  a  maple  tree  with  begins  of  buds  upon 
it.  I  did  walk  up  to  the  tree.  I  put  my  ear  to  it  to 
have  listens  to  the  sap  going  up.  It  is  a  sound  I  like 
to  hear.  There  is  so  much  of  springtime  in  it.  While 
I  did  listen,  in  the  other  ear  that  was  not  to  the 
maple  tree  I  did  have  hearings  of  the  talkings  of  the 
wind  and  petite  plants  just  having  begins  to  grow 
out  of  the  earth.  The  wind  did  say,  "  Je  viens  — • 
je  viens."  The  plants  did  answer  make,  "Nous 
entendons  —  nous  entendons."  So  they  did  speak. 
Then  the  wind  did  say,  "Le  printemps  viendra 
bientot."  And  the  plants  did  answer  make,  "Nous 
fleurirons  bientot." 

I  did  have  glad  feels.  William  Shakespeare 
moved  a  little  move.  I  had  some  doubts  if  he  did 


H2  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

hear  all  plainly  they  did  say,  so  I  went  up  to  his 
nose  and  said  it  all  over  to  him.  He  had  under 
standing.  We  went  on.  When  we  were  come  again 
to  a  stump,  I  did  climb  again  upon  his  back.  We 
went  by  a  big  mill  with  piles  of  lumber  to  its  near 
side,  and  a  long  wide  roof  it  had.  There  was  a  row 
of  lumber-shanties  and  some  more.  There  was 
children  about  and  dogs.  They  did  smile  and  wave 
and  I  did  too.  We  went  on.  More  fir  trees  of  great 
tallness  was  on  either  side  the  road.  They  did 
stretch  out  their  great  arms  to  welcome  to  us.  I 
so  do  love  trees.  I  have  thinks  I  was  once  a  tree 
growing  in  the  forest;  now  all  trees  are  my  brothers. 

When  we  were  gone  a  little  way  on  from  the  very 
tall  trees,  in  the  sky  the  light  of  day  was  going  from 
blue  to  silver.  And  thoughts  had  coming  down  the 
road  to  meet  us.  They  were  thoughts  from  out 
the  mountains  where  are  the  mines.  They  were 
thoughts  from  the  canyons  that  come  down  to 
meet  the  road  by  the  riviere.  I  did  feel  their  com 
ing  close  about  us.  Very  near  they  were  and  all 
about.  We  went  on  a  little  way  only.  We  went 
very  slow.  We  had  listens  to  the  thoughts.  They 
were  thoughts  of  blooming-time  and  coming-time. 
They  were  the  soul  thoughts  of  little  things  that 
soon  will  have  their  borning-time. 

When  we  did  go  on  we  did  hear  little  sounds 
coming  from  a  long  way  down  the  road.  They  were 
like  the  shoe  on  the  foot  of  a  horse  making  touches 
on  the  road  in  a  hurry  way.  The  sound,  it  came 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  113 

more  near.  We  made  a  stop  to  have  a  listen.  It  was 
coming  more  near  gray-light-time  and  we  could  not 
have  plain  sees  until  the  horse  was  come  more  near 
a  way  down  the  road.  Then  we  had  sees  a  man  was 
riding  on  the  horse.  They  came  on  in  the  quick 
way  that  made  the  little  fast  patter  sounds  on  the 
ground.  When  he  was  most  come  to  where  we  were, 
the  man  did  have  the  horse  to  go  in  a  more  slow 
way.  When  he  was  come  to  where  we  were  he  did 
have  the  horse  to  stop.  The  man  upon  the  horse 
was  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind 
to  mice.  He  did  seem  most  glad  that  we  were  on 
the  road  he  was  on.  He  did  breathe  some  satisfac 
tion  breathes  just  like  Sadie  McKibben  does  when 
she  finds  I  have  n't  broken  my  bones  when  I  fall  out 
of  a  tree.  Then  he  made  begins.  He  said,  "The 
fairies—"  And  I  said,  "What?"  He  said,  "The 
fairies  have  left  a  note  on  a  leaf  in  the  moss-box 
by  the  old  log.  It  was  a  note  for  me  to  go  until  I  find 
you  and  William  Shakespeare  —  to  bring  you  home 
again  before  starlight-time." 

There  was  a  little  fern-plant  with  the  note  on  the 
leaf.  He  gave  them  to  me.  And  we  came  our  way 
home.  Now  I  have  thinks  it  was  God  in  his  good 
ness  did  send  the  fairies  to  leave  that  fern-note  on 
the  leaf.  And  William  Shakespeare  and  I  were  glad 
he  was  come  to  meet  us,  for  the  stars  were  not  and 
dark  was  before  we  were  come  home.  But  the 
man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice, 
he  did  have  knows  of  the  way  of  the  road  by  night. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Of  Jenny  Strong's  Visit,  its  Gladness  and  its  Sadness. 

JENNY  STRONG  is  come  to  visit  us.  She  came  in 
the  morning  of  to-day.  She  came  on  the  logging 
train.  She  brought  her  bags  with  her.  The  mamma 
did  send  me  to  meet  her  at  the  meeting  of  the  roads. 
The  bags,  they  were  heavy  to  carry,  and  my  arms 
got  some  tired.  As  we  did  go  along,  in-between 
times  I  did  look  looks  at  Jenny  Strong.  There  is  so 
much  of  interest  about  her.  The  gray  curls  about 
her  face  did  have  the  proper  look  she  wants  them 
to  have.  To  get  that  proper  look  she  does  them  up 
on  curl-papers.  I  have  seen  her  so  do  when  she  was 
come  to  visit  us  before.  And  this  morning  her 
plump  cheeks  were  roses.  And  all  her  plumpness 
did  most  fill  the  gray  dresses  she  was  wearing. 
Jenny  Strong  has  little  ruffles  around  the  neck  of 
that  dress,  like  the  little  ruffles  that  was  around  the 
neck  of  the  man  with  the  glove  when  Titian  made 
his  picture.  Those  ruffles  on  the  neck  of  the  gray 
dress  of  Jenny  Strong  did  look  like  it  was  their  joy 
to  cuddle  up  against  the  back  of  her  black  bonnet. 

That  black  bonnet  has  a  pink  rosebud  on  it,  and 
every  time  that  Jenny  Strong  does  give  her  head  a 
nod,  that  pink  rosebud  does  give  itself  a  nod.  It 
must  be  interest  to  be  a  pink  rosebud  on  a  black 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  115 

bonnet  that  Jenny  Strong  wears.  When  we  were 
come  to  the  gate  Jenny  Strong  did  hold  her  cape 
and  her  gray  dress  up  in  a  careful  way.  She  had 
blue  stockings  on,  and  they  was  fastened  up  with 
pink  ribbons.  She  went  on  while  I  did  shut  the 
gate.  I  did  come  after.  I  could  not  come  after  in  a 
quick  way  because  the  bags  was  heavy.  Pretty 
soon  Jenny  Strong  did  have  seeing  I  was  not  there 
beside  her,  and  she  did  wait  waits  for  me  a  little 
while,  and  I  did  come  to  where  she  was. 

We  went  on.  The  way  was  dampness  near  the 
singing  creek  and  Jenny  Strong  did  take  dainty 
steps  as  we  did  go  along.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium 
did  come  to  meet  us.  And  so  came  Brave  Horatius. 
And  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  did  perch  upon  his 
back.  We  went  on.  The  pink  rosebud  on  the  black 
bonnet  of  Jenny  Strong  did  nod  itself  twelve  times 
as  we  did  go  along.  When  we  were  come  near  unto 
the  house,  there  was  a  rooster  by  our  front  door. 
He  was  strutting  along.  He  was  that  same  rooster 
that  I  tied  a  slice  of  bacon  around  his  neck  this 
morning  because  he  had  queer  actions  in  the 
throat.  When  Jenny  Strong  saw  him  strutting 
along  with  the  bacon  wrapped  around  his  throat, 
she  did  turn  her  head  to  the  side  with  a  delicate 
cough. 

After  Jenny  Strong  took  off  her  cape  and  her 
black  bonnet  with  the  pink  rosebud  on  it,  I  did 
pull  the  best  rocking-chair  out  in  the  middle  of  the 
room  for  her.  She  sat  down  in  it  and  she  did  start 


u6  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

to  have  talks  with  the  mamma.  I  did  go  to  teeter 
the  baby  on  the  bed  as  the  mamma  did  say  for  me 
to  do.  Jenny  Strong  did  rock  big  rocks  in  that  rock 
ing-chair  while  she  did  talk.  One  time  she  did 
almost  rock  over.  She  breathed  a  big  breath.  Then, 
that  she  might  not  rock  over  again,  I  did  put  a 
stick  of  wood  under  the  rocker.  That  helped  some. 
But,  too,  it  did  keep  her  from  rocking.  She  went  on 
talking.  I  went  back  to  the  bed  to  teeter  the  baby. 
While  I  did  teeter  the  baby  I  did  look  looks  out  the 
window.  In  a  bush  that  I  do  tie  pieces  of  suet  to, 
there  was  a  little  gray  bird  with  a  black  cap  and  his 
throat  it  was  black.  He  was  a  fluffy  ball  and  he 
almost  did  turn  himself  upside-down  on  that 
branch.  Then  he  went  a  go-away.  Only  a  little 
way  he  went.  Then  he  was  with  more  like  himself. 
They  went  on  together. 

By  and  by  the  mamma's  baby  did  go  to  sleep, 
and  I  climbed  off  the  bed  and  made  a  start  to  go  to 
the  nursery.  Jenny  Strong  did  ask  me  where  I  was 
going.  I  did  tell  her.  She  said  she  thought  she 
would  like  to  go  with  me.  We  did  go  out  the  door. 
Then  I  ran  a  quick  run  back  to  get  her  black  bonnet 
with  the  pink  rosebud  on  it.  I  brought  it  to  her. 
She  said,  being  as  I  did  bring  it  to  her,  she  would 
wear  it,  but  she  had  not  in  tent  chuns  to  when  we 
started.  She  had  forgot  it.  But  I  did  n't  have  for 
gets.  I  do  so  like  to  see  that  pink  rosebud  nod  itself. 

We  went  on.  We  went  a  little  way  down  the 
path.  Then  I  did  go  aside.  Jenny  Strong  did  follow 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  117 

after  me.  She  came  over  the  little  logs  in  a  slow 
way.  I  did  make  stops  to  help  her.  The  pink  rose 
bud  on  the  black  bonnet  did  nod  itself  fifteen  times 
on  the  way.  I  did  count  its  times.  When  we  were 
come  to  the  nursery,  first  I  did  show  her  the  many 
baby  seeds  I  did  gather  by  the  wayside  in  the  fall- 
time.  I  did  tell  her  how  I  was  going  to  plant  them 
when  come  springtime.  She  did  nod  her  head. 
Every  time  she  so  did,  the  pink  rosebud  on  the 
black  bonnet  did  nod  itself. 

After  I  told  her  most  all  about  the  seeds,  I  did 
show  her  the  silk  bags  with  spider  eggs  in  them. 
Then  I  did  show  her  all  the  cradles  the  velvety 
caterpillars  did  make  at  falltime.  I  did  give  her 
explainings  how  butterflies  and  moths  would  be 
a-coming  out  of  the  cradles  when  springtime  was 
come.  She  looked  concentration  looks  at  them. 
She  gave  her  head  some  more  nods  and  the  pink 
rosebud  on  the  black  bonnet  gave  itself  some  more 
nods.  I  moved  on  to  where  the  wood-mouse  folks 
are.  I  was  just  going  to  show  her  what  a  nice  nose 
and  little  hands  Nannerl  Mozart  has,  and  what  a 
velvety  mouse  Felix  Mendelssohn  is.  When  I  did 
turn  about  to  so  do,  there  was  Jenny  Strong  going 
in  funny  little  hops  over  the  logs.  She  was  going  in 
a  hurry  way  to  the  house. 

I  did  have  a  wonder  why  was  it  she  so  went.  I 
gave  Felix  Mendelssohn  more  pats  and  I  put  him 
in  my  apron  pocket.  And  Nannerl  Mozart  did  curl 
up  in  the  bed  I  have  fixed  for  her  in  the  nursery. 


n8  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Then  I  did  sing  a  lullaby  song  to  all  the  wood- 
mice  in  the  nursery.  And  they  are  a  goodly  number. 
I  did  sing  to  them  the  song  La  Nonette  sings  as  it 
goes  on  its  way  to  Oise. 

Then  I  did  go  through  the  near  woods  to  the 
mill  by  the  far  woods.  I  so  did  go  to  see  the  man 
that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice. 
When  he  had  seeing  that  I  was  come  by  the  big 
tree,  he  did  say  in  his  gentle  way,  "What  is  it, 
little  one?  Is  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  not 
well?"  "Oh,  yes,"  I  said,  "he  is  most  well  and  he 
did  have  likes  for  that  piece  of  cheese  you  did  give 
to  him  on  yesterday.  He  is  a  most  lovely  wood-rat, 
and  what  I  have  come  to  tell  you  about  is,  we  got 
company.  She  has  a  fondness  for  pinkness.  Her 
name  is  Jenny  Strong.  And  she  has  a  pink  rosebud 
on  her  black  bonnet  and  ties  her  blue  stockings  up 
with  pink  ribbons." 

And  then  I  did  ask  him  if  he  did  not  have  thinks 
a  pink  ribbon  would  be  nice  for  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  to  wear  on  some  days  —  on  days  when 
he  goes  to  cathedral  service  with  me.  And,  too,  I 
did  tell  him  how  I  did  have  thinks  a  pink  ribbon 
would  be  nice  for  William  Shakespeare  and  FeKx 
Mendelssohn  and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and 
Brave  Horatius. 

The  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to 
mice  did  have  thinks  like  my  thinks.  He  did  say 
for  me  to  go  write  the  fairies  about  it.  And  I  did. 
I  did  write  it  on  a  gray  leaf.  I  put  the  gray  leaf  in 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  119 

a  moss-box  at  the  end  of  an  old  log  near  unto  the 
altar  of  Saint  Louis.  The  nian  that  wears  gray 
neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  knows  about  that 
moss-box  where  I  do  put  letters  for  the  fairies.  He 
believes  in  fairies,  too.  And  we  talk  about  them. 
He  does  ask  me  what  I  write  to  them  about  and 
what  things  I  have  needs  for  them  to  bring.  I  do 
tell  him,  and  when  the  fairies  do  leave  the  things 
at  the  end  of  the  old  log,  I  do  take  and  show  them 
to  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to 
mice.  He  is  so  glad.  He  does  believe  in  fairies,  too. 

As  I  did  come  back  through  the  near  woods, 
I  did  stop  by  some  grand  fir  trees  to  pray.  When 
one  does  look  looks  up  at  the  grand  trees  growing 
up  almost  to  the  sky,  one  does  always  have  long 
ings  to  pray.  When  I  did  come  on,  I  did  hear  the 
mamma  calling.  When  I  was  come  to  the  door,  she 
made  me  go  stand  in  the  corner  of  the  wood-shed. 
Soon  she  came  out.  She  did  shut  the  door  tight 
behind  her.  Then  she  did  ask  me  what  for  was  it  I 
gave  Jenny  Strong  such  a  scare,  and  she  did  spank 
me  most  hard.  Now  I  have  sore  feels  and  I  have 
thinks  it  would  be  nice  to  have  a  cushion  to  sit  on. 
And  I  do  have  wonders  what  it  was  Jenny  Strong 
got  scares  about.  I  think  grown-ups  are  queer 
sometimes. 

When  I  did  go  into  the  house,  all  the  scares  was 
gone  off  Jenny  Strong,  The  mamma  soon  did  make 
me  to  go  under  the  bed.  Here  I  print.  Jenny 
Strong  sits  by  the  fire.  She  does  sit  in  a  rocking- 


120  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

chair  with  her  feet  propped  up  on  a  soap-box.  She 
hums  as  she  sits.  She  crochets  as  she  hums.  She 
does  make  lace  in  a  quick  way. 

Now  Jenny  Strong  and  the  mamma  is  gone  to 
the  house  of  Elsie  to  see  the  new  baby.  When  she 
did  go,  the  mamma  did  tell  me  to  put  the  baby  to 
sleep.  I  so  did.  I  did  sing  it  to  sleep  in  the  rocking- 
chair.  I  did  sing  it  the  Riviere  and  Fleuve  song :  "A 
is  for  Adour,  Avre,  Ain,  Aube,  Arroux,  and  Allier." 
When  I  did  get  to  "D  is  for  Douze  and  Dordogne 
and  Durance,"  the  baby  did  move  its  arm.  When 
I  did  get  to  "G  is  for  Garonne  and  Gers  and  Gard," 
the  baby  did  open  its  eyes.  When  I  did  get  to  "  I 
is  for  Indre,  and  Isere  and  Iraouaddy,"  it  did  close 
its  eyes.  I  did  sing  on.  And  sleeps  did  come  upon 
the  baby. 

We  had  lots  on  the  table  to  eat  to-night,  because 
Jenny  Strong  is  come.  And  most  everything  I  did 
get  to  eat  I  did  make  divides  of  it  for  my  animal 
friends.  They  will  all  have  a  good  share.  And  they 
will  be  glad.  There  is  enough  for  all  to  have  a 
good  amount  to  eat,  which  often  is  n't.  I  did  feel 
a  goodly  amount  of  satisfaction  sitting  there  at 
the  supper-table  to-night  for  a  little  time.  I  was 
thinking  how  glad  the  mice  will  be  for  the  corn  I 
have  saved  for  them;  and  too  Brave  Horatius  will 
have  good  feels  in  his  mouth  when  he  sees  that 
big  bone.  And  the  birds  will  like  all  the  scraps  that 
are  on  the  plate  of  Jenny  Strong  if  I  can  get  them 
before  the  mamma  gives  them  to  that  big  gray  cat. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  121 

I  have  seeings  that  the  folks,  they  are  almost 
through  eating.  I  now  am  not  at  the  table.  I  was 
only  there  for  a  very  little  while.  I  now  am  under 
the  bed.  The  mamma  did  send  me  away  from  the 
table  —  it  seems  a  long  time  ago.  She  did  send  me 
away  from  the  table  because  when  Jenny  Strong 
asked  me  if  I  liked  her  dress,  I  said,  "Yes,  and  the 
ruffles  around  your  neck  are  like  the  ruffles  around 
the  neck  of  the  man  with  the  glove,  when  Titian 
made  his  picture."  Jenny  Strong  looked  a  queer 
look  and  she  said  to  the  mamma,  "What  a  naughty 
child!"  The  mamma  did  straightway  tell  me  to 
crawl  under  the  bed  and  to  stay  there.  I  so  am.  I 
have  feels  Jenny  Strong  has  not  had  seeing  of  the 
picture  of  the  man  with  the  glove  that  Titian  did 
make.  I  thought  it  was  nice  to  tell  her  her  ruffles 
were  like  his.  They  did  look  so  nice. 

I  have  wonders  about  folks.  They  are  hard  to 
understand.  I  think  I  will  just  say  a  little  prayer. 
My,  I  do  have  such  hungry  feels  now.  They  at  the 
table  are  not  through  yet.  I  make  swallows  down 
my  throat.  It  is  most  hard  not  to  eat  what  I  have 
saved  for  my  animal  friends.  But  they  will  like  it 
—  so  I  can  wait  waits  until  breakfast-time.  I  can. 
In-between  times  I  will  have  thinks  and  prayers. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Of  the  Woods  on  a  Lonesome  Day,  and  the  Friendliness  of  the 
Wood- Folks  on  December  Days  when  you  Put  your  Ears 
Close  and  Listen. 

THIS  day  —  it  was  a  lonely  day.  I  did  have 
longings  all  its  hours  for  Angel  Mother  and  Angel 
Father.  In-between  times  all  day  at  school  I  did 
print  messages  for  them  on  gray  leaves  I  did  gather 
on  the  way  to  school.  I  did  tell  on  the  leaves  the 
longings  I  was  having.  Too,  on  the  leaves  I  did  tell 
of  William  Shakespeare  and  our  talks  as  we  do  go 
walking  down  the  lane,  and  the  poetry  I  do  tell  him 
in  the  manger.  And  I  did  print  on  more  leaves  how 
I  do  read  out  of  the  books  they  did  make  —  how  I 
do  sit  in  the  manger  and  read  what  is  in  them,  and 
he  does  have  understandings.  And  on  other  leaves 
I  did  tell  them  as  how  the  nose  of  Thomas  Chatter- 
ton  Jupiter  Zeus  that  was  soreness  has  now  well 
feels  with  prayers  and  mentholatum  that  Sadie 
McKibben  did  give,  and  as  how  the  head-ache 
of  the  most  big  rooster  has  now  well  feels  with 
camphoratum  and  vaselineatum;  and  as  how  the 
stomach-ache  of  Aphrodite  did  get  well  feels  with 
caster  oilatum  that  Sadie  McKibben  did  give.  And 
after,  I  did  tell  of  how  on  many  days  in  gray-light- 
time  I  have  had  going  on  searches  for  the  kisses  of 
Angel  Father,  what  he  did  tell  me  to  keep  watches 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  123 

for  in  the  fleurs  while  he  was  away  gone  to  the  far 
lands.  And  on  more  leaves  I  did  tell  them  as  how 
Peter  Paul  Rubens  that  was  is  not  now,  and  how 
I  do  carry  about  with  me  the  little  bell  he  always 
did  wear  in  the  cathedral. 

And  when  these  leaves  were  so  done,  I  did  not 
go  on  for  a  time  little.  For  a  little  time  I  did  have 
thinks.  And  the  thinks  I  did  have  —  they  were 
about  the  glad  song.  The  glad  song  in  my  heart 
sings  not  bright  to-day.  It  is  lonesome  feels  I  have. 
But  I  do  try  to  have  thinks  as  how  I  can  bring 
happiness  to  folks  about.  That  is  such  a  help  when 
lonesome  feels  do  come.  Angel  Mother  did  say, 
"Make  earth  glad,  little  one  —  that  is  the  way  to 
keep  the  fire-tongue  of  the  glad  song  ever  in  your 
heart.  It  must  not  go  out."  I  so  do  try  to  keep  it 
there.  I  so  do  try,  for  it  is  helps  on  cold  days  and 
old  days.  And  I  did  have  remembers  as  how  it  was 
Angel  Mother  did  say,  "When  one  keeps  the  glad 
song  singing  in  one's  heart  then  do  the  hearts  of 
others  sing." 

So  I  did  make  hard  swallows  to  swallow  all  the 
lonesome  feels,  and  I  did  have  thinks  as  how  I 
would  stop  to  get  water-cress  for  the  mamma  on 
the  way  home  from  school.  She  does  have  such  a 
fondness  for  it.  And  too  she  does  have  longings  for 
singing  lessons.  I  am  saving  my  pennies  to  buy  her 
one.  All  the  pennies  that  the  man  that  wears  gray 
neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  does  give  to  me  I  save. 
I  put  them  in  the  corner  of  the  wood-shed  where 


i24  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Brave  Horatius  sleeps  at  night.  I  think  I  have  most 
enough  pennies  to  buy  her  a  singing  lesson  now.  I 
have  nineteen  pennies.  And  when  I  grow  up  I  am 
going  to  buy  her  a  whole  rain-barrel  full  of  singing 
lessons. 

And  then  I  did  have  thinks  as  how  to-morrow  I 
will  be  taking  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  to  visit 
the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  They  do  both  have 
likings  for  one  another.  The  girl  who  has  no  seeing 
has  an  understanding  soul.  All  my  friends  do  have 
appreciations  of  the  pats  she  does  give  to  them  and 
the  words  she  does  say.  And  sometimes  a  goodly 
number  of  them  do  have  goings  to  her  house  with 
me.  That  is  when  her  folks  are  not  at  home.  Then 
does  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  walk  right  by 
my  side  up  to  the  door.  And  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  cuddles  up  in  my  arms,  and  in  my 
pockets  do  ride  other  folks  —  and  Brave  Horatius 
follows  after. 

When  we  are  come,  she  does  smooth  back  my 
curls  and  give  me  a  kiss.  She  says  when  we  are 
come,  "Here  is  come  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  I 
have  feels  she  has  mistakes  about  that,  because  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  being  up  in  the  sky,  is  there 
beyond  the  stars.  And  when  we  are  come,  she  does 
have  asking  about  the  voices.  And  I  do  help  her  to 
get  understandings  of  the  thoughts  growing  with  the 
fleurs  and  the  trees  and  the  leaves.  And  I  do  tell 
her  as  how  those  are  God's  thoughts  growing  right 
up  out  of  the  earth.  And  she  wants  to  know  more. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  125 

Always  she  does  ask  for  more.  To-morrow  we  will 
go  —  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  and  me  —  we 
will  go  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  house  of  the 
girl  that  has  no  seeing. 

To-day,  after  I  did  have  thinks  about  it  in 
school,  I  did  print  more  messages  on  leaves  for 
Angel  Father  and  Angel  Mother.  I  did  tell  them 
about  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  And  on  more 
leaves  I  did  print  all  about  the  cathedral  and  how 
the  presence  of  Saint  Louis  is  always  near  unto  it. 
And  then  it  was  come  time  for  school  to  let  out. 

I  went  adown  the  road.  I  went  the  way  by  the 
field  where  Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindisfarne 
was  on  yesterday.  I  climbed  the  fence.  I  looked 
looks  about.  He  was  not  there  to-day.  But  there 
were  Bede  of  Jarrow  and  Felix  of  Croyland.  I  did 
have  talks  with  them.  I  went  on.  I  went  on  to  the 
singing  creek  where  the  willows  grew.  I  gathered 
water-cress  for  the  mamma.  Then  I  did  go  my  way 
to  the  house  we  live  in.  No  one  was  there.  I  put 
the  water-cress  for  the  mamma  on  the  cook  table. 
Then  I  did  bring  much  wood  in  and  put  it  in  the 
wood-box  back  of  the  kitchen  stove. 

After  the  chickens  did  have  their  supper  feed,  I 
did  go  into  the  near  woods.  I  so  went  to  tie  the 
messages  I  did  print  on  gray  leaves  to  the  trees. 
And  I  tied  one  on  one  tree  and  one  on  another.  I 
tied  them  there  that  they  may  go  in  thoughts  to 
Angel  Mother  and  Angel  Father  up  in  heaven 
there.  And  I  did  have  thinks  when  the  angels  come 


126  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

to  walk  in  the  near  woods  they  would  see  and  carry 
them  on.  And  I  did  say  a  little  prayer  every  time 
I  did  tie  on  a  leaf-message. 

I  did  look  looks  about.  This  woods  is  gray  in 
winter  when  come  cold  days.  And  gray  shadows 
walk  among  the  trees.  They  touch  one's  face  with 
velvet  fingers  when  one  goes  walking  there  in  the 
woods.  In  the  winter  old  gray  leaves  grow  to  look 
like  lace.  They  are  very  beautiful.  As  I  did  go 
along,  I  saw  many  gray  rocks.  Some  gray  rocks 
had  gray  and  green  patches  on  them.  Some  of 
these  patches  had  ruffles  all  around  their  edges. 
The  gray  patches  on  gray  rocks  are  lichens.  My 
Angel  Father  said  so.  Lichen  folks  talk  in  gray 
tones.  I  think  they  do  talk  more  when  come  win 
ter  days.  I  hear  their  voices  more  in  December  than 
I  do  hear  their  voices  in  July  and  June  time.  Angel 
Father  did  show  me  the  way  to  listen  to  lichen 
voices.  Most  grown-ups  don't  hear  them  at  all.  I 
see  them  walk  right  by  —  in  a  hurry  sometimes. 
And  all  the  time  the  lichen  folks  are  saying  things. 
And  the  things  they  say  are  their  thoughts  about 
the  gladness  of  a  winter  day.  I  put  my  ear  close  to 
the  rocks  and  I  listen.  That  is  how  I  do  hear  what 
they  are  saying.  Then  I  do  take  a  reed  for  a  flute. 
I  climb  on  a  stump  —  on  the  most  high  stump  that 
is  near.  I  pipe  on  the  flute  to  the  wind  what  the 
lichens  are  saying.  I  am  piper  for  the  lichens  that 
dwell  on  the  gray  rocks,  and  the  lichens  that  cling 
to  the  trees  grown  old. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Of  Works  to  be  Done;  and  how  it  Was  that  a  Glad  Light  Came 
into  the  Eyes  of  the  Man  who  Wears  Gray  Neckties  and  Is 
Kind  to  Mice. 

MORNING  works  is  done  —  and  some  more 
already  too.  There  is  enough  barks  in  for  to-day 
and  to-morrow.  And  many  kindlings  are  now  in 
on  the  floor  by  the  big  wood-box.  I  have  had  my 
dinner  at  the  noontime  and  I  went  into  the  barn. 
There  were  little  sad  sounds  in  the  stall.  It  was  the 
moos  of  Mathilde  Plantagenet.  Now  I  have  thinks 
her  moos  were  moos  for  some  dinner  at  noontime. 
She  has  breakfast  at  morningtime  and  supper  she 
has  at  gray-light-time.  But  when  noontime  is 
come,  Mathilde  Plantagenet  is  here  in  the  barn, 
and  her  mother,  the  most  gentle  Jersey  cow,  is 
away  out  in  the  pasture.  I  have  thinks  there  is 
needs  for  me  to  take  ]\/tathilde  Plantagenet  from 
the  barn  to  the  pasture  at  noontimes  so  she  may 
have  her  dinner.  I  go  now  to  so  do. 

I  did  give  the  latch  of  the  barn-door  a  slip  back. 
Then  I  led  Mathilde  Plantagenet  out  by  the  little 
rope  I  did  use  to  use  to  lead  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning  out  by  when  she  was  a  little  calf.  We 
went  our  way  to  the  pasture-bars.  I  did  give  to  one 
a  push,  and  it  made  a  drop  down.  Then  I  gave  two 
more  pushes,  and  they  went  drop  downs.  We  went 


128  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

on  through  in  between.  It  took  a  more  long  time  to 
fix  up  the  pasture-bars.  They  have  so  heavy  feels 
when  I  go  to  put  them  back  again.  When  I  did 
have  them  so  put,  we  made  a  go-on.  We  went  a 
little  way  on.  We  did  not  have  goes  far,  for  the 
gentle  Jersey  cow  had  sees  of  our  coming  and  she 
came  to  meet  us.  We  was  glad  to  have  it  so.  I 
have  thinks  Mathilde  Plantagenet  did  have  most 
joy  feels  about  it.  She  did  start  to  get  her  dinner 
from  her  mother  in  a  quick  way.  I  watched  her 
suck  and  suck  some  more.  Seeing  her  have  her 
dinner  from  her  mother  a  long  time  before  supper- 
time  did  make  me  to  have  such  a  big  amount  of 
satisfaction  feels. 

The  grandpa  felt  not  so.  There  was  disturbs  on 
his  temper.  He  was  at  our  house  when  I  was  come 
home  from  leading  Mathilde  Plantagenet  back  to 
the  barn  after  she  had  sucked  her  mother  a  long 
time.  The  mamma  did  spank  me  some  and  some 
more.  Now  I  have  wonders  why  was  it  the  grandpa 
felt  not  satisfaction  feels  at  Mathilde  Plantagenet 
having  her  dinner  near  noontime  just  like  most  all 
other  children. 

After  the  mamma  did  spank  me,  she  told  me 
more  works  to  do,  and  she  went  with  her  father  to 
the  ranch-house  to  see  her  mother  that  was  newly 
come  back  from  the  mill  town  where  she  did  go 
early  on  this  morning. 

When  the  more  works  was  done,  I  went  in  a 
quick  soft  way  to  the  woods.  I  made  little  hops 
over  the  bushes  —  the  little  bushes  —  as  I  did  go 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  129 

along.  I  went  along  the  path  until  I  came  near 
unto  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  big  old  log  where 
is  the  moss-box.  I  hid  behind  a  tree  when  I  was 
almost  come  there.  I  so  did  to  wait  a  wait  to  see  if 
the  fairies  were  near  about.  I  had  not  seeing  of  one 
about  the  moss-box. 

I  looked  looks  about.  I  looked  looks  about  the 
old  root  by  the  log.  It  turned  a  big  piece  of  bark 
over.  Under  it  was  something  between  two  layers 
of  moss  tied  up  with  a  pink  ribbon.  I  felt  glad  feels. 
When  I  did  untie  the  pink  ribbon  around  the  moss, 
there  was  lots  more  of  pink  ribbons.  They  did 
have  little  cards,  and  the  little  card  on  a  nice  long 
piece  of  pink  ribbon  said,  "For  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus."  Another  card  on  a  more  long  piece 
did  say,  "  For  William  Shakespeare."  Another  card 
on  a  more  short  piece  did  say,  "For  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium."  And  there  was  a  ribbon  for  Brave 
Horatius  and  Isaiah  and  Elizabeth  Barrett  Brown 
ing  and  for  Mathilde  Plantagenet,  and  there  was 
more. 

I  did  take  them  all  in  my  arms  and  I  did  go  to 
the  mill  in  the  far  woods.  I  so  went  to  show  all 
those  pretty  pink  ribbons  to  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice.  I  did  show  him 
all  the  cards  that  was  on  them.  He  was  glad.  I  had 
seeing  of  the  glad  light  in  his  eyes.  He  and  I  —  we 
do  believe  in  fairies.  Near  him  to-day  was  working 
the  man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles  most  all  of 
the  time.  He  is  a  man  with  an  understanding  soul. 
When  Brave  Horatius  did  get  his  leg  hurt  the  other 


1 30  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

day,  this  man  did  wash  it  and  mentholatum  it,  and 
he  wrapped  his  handkerchief  in  rounds  around  it. 
Brave  Horatius  has  likes  for  him,  too. 

To-day,  when  I  did  show  to  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  all  the  pink 
ribbons  the  fairies  did  bring,  he  did  say  he  thought 
the  other  man  would  like  to  see  Brave  Horatius's 
new  pink  ribbon  that  he  was  going  to  wear  to 
cathedral  service  come  a  Sunday.  And  he  did  have 
likes  to  see  it.  When  I  told  him  how  it  was  brought 
by  the  fairies  to  the  moss-box  by  the  old  log,  he 
said,  "By  jolly  —  that's  fine."  And  the  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  gave  me 
pats  on  the  head,  and  I  brought  the  ribbons  back 
to  a  box  where  I  do  keep  things  in  the  woods. 

I  went  on.  When  I  was  come  to  the  house  we 
live  in,  I  had  sees  the  mamma  was  come  back. 
When  I  was  come  into  the  house,  I  had  sees  with 
her  the  mamma  brought  back  a  little  bottle  —  it 
is  called  china-mending  glue  —  guaranteed  to  stick. 
That  sounds  great.  I  believe  that  bottle  is  quite  a 
blessing.  It  has  an  interest  look.  It  will  be  of  much 
use  in  many  ways.  I'm  glad  the  mamma  set  it  on 
the  lamp-shelf,  because  I  can  climb  on  the  stove 
and  reach  up  to  the  shelf. 

Now  I  go  to  talk  with  the  willows  where  Nonette 
flows.  I  am  going  to  tell  them  about  this  being  the 
borning  day  of  Queen  Elizabeth  of  York,  in  1465. 
Then  I  am  going  goes  to  tell  William  Shakespeare 
and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  about  it. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

How  Opal  Pays  One  Visit  to  Elsie  and  Another  to  Dear  Love, 
and  Learns  how  to  Mend  her  Clothes  in  a  Quick  Way. 

THE  nipple  on  Elsie's  baby's  milk-bottle  has  not 
stay-ons.  It  has  had  come-offs  a  lot  of  times  to-day. 
The  last  time  it  did  come  off,  Elsie  did  say,  "I  wish 
it  would  stick  tight  this  time."  I  was  standing  by 
with  the  bacon  she  was  sending  back  that  she  did 
borrow  from  the  mamma.  When  I  did  hear  her 
express  her  wish,  I  did  tell  her  I  had  knows  of  a 
way  to  make  that  nipple  stick  tight  on  the  baby's 
milk-bottle.  She  said,  " That's  nice  —  I  don't 
know  of  a  way."  Inside  me  I  had  feels  she  ought 
to  have  knows  of  a  way  —  now  that  her  babies  are 
two.  But  I  had  sees  how  it  was  she  had  not  knows 
of  a  way;  on  her  lamp-shelf  back  of  the  stove  there 
is  no  bottle  of  china-mending  glue  guaranteed  to 
stick.  I  looked  looks  up  to  the  shelf  and  there  was 
not  any. 

She  had  asks  for  me  to  show  her  the  way.  I  told 
her  it  was  as  I  would  have  to  go  first  to  the  house 
we  live  in.  I  so  went  in  a  quick  way.  The  mamma 
was  not  in.  I  put  the  bacon  on  the  cook-table. 
Then  I  made  a  climb  up  on  the  stove  to  get  the 
bottle  of  china-mending  glue.  I  most  fell  off  the 
stove,  but  I  did  n't.  If  I  did,  I  might  have  broke 


132  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

the  bottle  of  china-mending  glue  guaranteed  to 
stick.  That  would  have  been  a  cal  lamb  of  tea. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  house  of  Elsie,  she  had 
askings  what  was  she  to  do.  I  told  her  to  go  in  the 
bedroom  and  shut  her  eyes  while  her  wish  came 
true.  She  filled  the  baby's  bottle  that  used  to  be  a 
brandy  bottle  with  warm  milk.  She  gave  it  and  the 
nipple  to  me,  and  she  went  into  the  bedroom  to 
wait  waits  for  her  wish  to  come  true.  A  little  time 
it  took.  I  had  to  have  carefuls,  so  there  would  n't 
be  glue  in  top  of  the  bottle  too.  I  made  it  in  a  nice 
ring  around  the  top.  Then  I  put  some  more  china- 
mending  glue  guaranteed  to  stick  in  a  ring  around 
the  edge  of  the  nipple.  That  fixed  it.  When  I  put 
it  on,  I  had  knows  it  would  stick. 

I  put  the  china-mending  glue  in  my  pocket,  and 
when  I  did  say,  "  It  is  fixed ! "  Elsie  did  come.  I  felt 
a  big  amount  of  satisfaction.  It  is  nice  to  help 
people  to  have  what  they  wish  for.  It  was  as  Elsie 
did  have  wishes  for  it  to  be.  When  I  did  hand  it  to 
her,  she  did  have  askings  how  was  she  going  to  have 
it  stick  on  on  other  days  when  I  was  not  there  to 
make  it  so  do.  She  did  have  asks  how  did  I  do  it. 
I  told  her  it  was  n't  me  —  it  was  the  china-mend 
ing  glue  guaranteed  to  stick.  That  was  what  did  it. 

She  had  a  spell  of  cough.  It  came  in  a  sudden 
way  upon  her  while  I  was  telling  her  what  it  was 
that  made  the  nipple  stick  like  she  had  wishes  for 
it  to.  I  had  not  knows  in  the  morning  of  this  day 
she  had  a  cold.  Whenever  she  does  have  a  cold  or 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  133 

feels  of  a  one  coming,  she  does  send  in  a  quick  way 
for  her  mother.  And  her  mother  does  come.  She 
comes  down  the  road  that  goes  up  to  the  mines. 
She  has  not  come  yet.  And  it's  an  awful  cough 
Elsie  did  have  then,  and  tears  in  her  eyes. 

When  she  did  get  better  of  the  cough,  I  did  give 
more  explains  how  she  could  always  make  the 
nipple  stick  on  tight  on  the  baby's  bottle  by  keep 
ing  there  on  her  lamp-shelf  a  bottle  of  mending 
glue  guaranteed  to  stick.  She  started  to  have 
coughs  again  and  I  gave  her  some  pats  on  the  back, 
like  I  have  seen  a  man  by  the  mill  by  the  far  woods 
pat  his  brother  on  the  back.  The  pats  on  the  back 
did  help  her  some.  When  she  had  coughs  no  more, 
I  went  out  the  door.  She  stepped  out  on  her  back 
steps.  She  gave  my  curls  a  smooth  back  and  told 
me  thanks  for  making  her  wish  come  true.  And 
she  told  me  more  thanks  for  the  in  form  ashun 
about  how  to  make  the  nipple  stick  on  the  baby's 
bottle  other  times. 

When  I  was  come  into  the  house  we  live  in,  I  had 
thinks  to  go  to  visit  Dear  Love.  When  I  did  give  my 
dress  a  smooth-out,  I  did  have  feels  of  that  tear 
I  got  in  it  yesterday  on  top  the  barn  door  when  I 
did  go  to  talk  with  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael. 
That  was  not  a  little  tear.  It  was  quite  a  big  one. 
I  had  thinks  it  might  get  some  more  tear  if  I  did 
not  mend  it.  I  got  a  patch.  It  was  almost  like  the 
dress.  It  was  a  piece  of  a  piece  that  was  left  when 
the  mamma  did  make  for  her  baby  a  jacket  of 


134  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

light  blue  outing  flannel.  The  patch  of  light  blue 
looked  nice  on  my  dark  blue  calico  dress,  and  the 
patch  did  have  a  soft  feel.  I  mended  it  onto  my 
dress  with  china-mending  glue  guaranteed  to  stick. 
Mending  it  that  way  saves  so  much  time.  It  is 
quicker  than  mending  it  with  a  needle  and  thread 
in  the  regular  way. 

Then  I  went  to  get  the  cap  of  the  husband  of 
Dear  Love.  The  husband  of  Dear  Love  has  given 
me  one  of  his  old  caps  to  carry  some  of  my  pets  in. 
Sometimes  caterpillars  do  ride  in  it  —  black  and 
brown  ones  that  do  roll  up  in  a  ball  and  sleep  the 
all  of  the  time  that  I  have  them  out  for  a  walk. 
And  sometimes  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Nannerl 
Mozart  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  do  all  ride 
in  it.  It  is  a  nice  warm  place  for  them  to  ride  when 
we  do  go  on  winter  walks.  But  mostly  Louis  II,  le 
Grand  Conde,  has  prefers  to  ride  in  the  sleeves  of 
my  warm  red  dress. 

Sometimes  Brave  Horatius  does  wear  this  cap 
that  was  the  cap  of  the  husband  of  Dear  Love. 
It  so  was  to-day  when  Brave  Horatius  and  I  did  go 
to  visit  Dear  Love;  Brave  Horatius  did  wear  the 
cap  of  her  husband.  I  put  little  pink-ribbon  strings 
on  it,  and  I  did  tie  them  under  his  chin  in  a  nice 
way.  He  was  very  quiet  while  I  did  so  do,  and  his 
being  quiet  did  help  me  to  get  them  tied  in  a  nice 
way.  He  is  such  a  lovely  dog.  And  he  does  have 
appreciations  for  all  the  things  I  do  for  him.  When 
I  did  have  that  cap  tied  on  in  a  nice  way,  he  did 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  13$ 

bark  a  joy  bark,  and  he  gave  his  tail  three  wags, 
and  we  did  start  to  go  to  the  house  of  Dear  Love. 

As  we  did  go  along  I  did  make  stops  to  look  for 
cones  and  to  get  a  piece  of  long  moss.  I  put  them 
in  my  pocket.  I  put  them  there  for  the  girl  who  has 
no  seeing.  She  has  likes  for  the  things  I  bring  her  to 
feel.  She  says  she  has  likes  to  have  them  near  her 
in  the  house  she  does  live  in.  So  most  every  day  I 
do  find  something  for  her,  so  she  can  have  joy  with 
its  feels.  She  so  does  like  pine-needles.  I  did  gather 
for  her  my  little  basket  full  of  pine-needles  under 
the  most  tall  pine  tree  of  all. 

We  went  on.  Little  blue  fleurs  are  early  blooming 
now,  before  the  oak  and  maple  trees  have  yet  their 
leaves.  I  do  so  like  blue.  It  is  glad  everywhere. 
When  I  grow  up  I  am  going  to  write  a  book  about 
the  glads  of  blue  —  and  about  the  dauphinelle  and 
lin  and  cornette  and  nigelle  and  herbe-de-la-trinite.  " 

We  made  more  stops  to  tell  the  willows  by  Non- 
ette  about  this  day  being  the  borning  day  of  Galileo 
in  1564  and  the  going-away  day  of  Michael  Angelo 
in  1564.  And  I  did  say  another  little  thank  prayer 
to  God  for  their  borning.  This  morning  we  did  have 
prayers  of  thanks  in  the  cathedral  for  the  works 
they  did  on  earth.  And  Elizabeth  Barrett  Brown 
ing  was  there  and  Brave  Horatius  and  most  of  the 
rest  of  us,  except  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde. 

When  we  were  come  to  the  house  of  Dear  Love, 
the  husband  of  Dear  Love  was  making  for  her  a 
chair.  He  was  putting  much  work  on  all  the  little 


136  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

pieces.  He  did  make  all  little  rough  places  to  have 
much  smoothness.  He  so  did  with  tools  out  of  a 
tool-box  he  does  keep  in  the  kitchen  of  their  little 
house.  When  he  is  not  having  uses  of  the  tools  in 
the  tool-box,  then  the  tool-box  has  its  lid  down  and 
it  is  a  seat  to  sit  on.  Sometimes  on  rainy  days 
when  I  do  take  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  to 
visit  Dear  Love,  we  all  do  sit  on  the  tool-box  and 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  does  allow  Dear 
Love  to  give  him  gentle  pats  on  his  nice  white  paws. 
He  does  have  such  beautiful  ones.  To-day  he  did 
have  allows  for  her  to  pat  his  paws  while  we  did  sit 
on  a  little  bench. 

Dear  Love  had  thinks  the  appears  of  the  cap  of 
her  husband  on  the  head  of  Brave  Horatius  was 
very  nice.  And  the  husband  of  Dear  Love  did  say 
the  pink  ribbons  now  on  his  cap  made  it  a  better- 
looking  cap.  I  had  thinks  so,  too.  Before  I  did 
have  comes  back  to  the  house  we  live  in,  Dear  Love 
did  get  out  a  piece  of  calico  just  like  my  dress. 
Then  she  cut  out  the  light  blue  patch  that  I  did 
mend  on  with  china-mending  glue  guaranteed  to 
stick.  She  did  sew  on  the  blue  calico  patch  in  a  nice 
way.  She  so  did  because  she  thought  the  light  blue 
patch  of  outing  flannel  would  be  nice  for  a  crib- 
robe  for  Felix  Mendelssohn. 

While  Dear  Love  was  sewing  that  blue  calico 
patch  on  my  blue  calico  dress  with  little  stitches, 
her  husband  did  smile  and  look  at  her  and  he  did 
sav,  "Another  reason."  Now  I  have  thinks  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  137 

other  reason  was  that  he  had  fears  if  I  longer  wore 
that  light  blue  patch  of  outing  flannel  on  my  dress, 
some  of  its  soft  feels  would  get  wored  off  and  would 
n't  be  there  for  the  joys  of  Felix  Mendelssohn.  He 
is  a  mouse  that  has  likes  for  soft  feels  to  go  to 
sleep  in. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Of  the  Camp  by  the  Mill  by  the  Far  Woods;  of  the  Spanking 
that  Came  from  the  New  Way  of  Mending  Clothes;  and  of 
the  Long  Sleep  of  William  Shakespeare. 

THE  papa  is  again  come  home  from  one  of  the 
upper  camps  —  one  of  those  by  the  riviere.  I  had 
seeing  of  him  when  I  went  to  look  for  Lucian  Horace 
Ovid  Virgil  under  the  front  step.  He  said  he  was 
going  to  make  early  garden.  He  said  he  thought  he 
would  set  some  onions  out  and  plant  some  radishes 
and  some  seeds  that  will  grow  into  lettuce.  I  did 
make  a  stop  to  help  him.  He  said  for  me  to  carry 
off  the  rocks  where  he  did  make  spade-ups.  I  did. 
I  picked  up  the  rocks  in  a  quick  way.  I  carried 
them  a  little  way  away  by  the  brook.  When  sum 
mertime  is  come,  I  have  thinks  I  will  put  them  in 
the  brook  with  some  more  to  make  the  brook  have 
more  wideness.  And  the  man  of  the  long  step  that 
whistles  most  all  of  the  time  has  made  me  a  water- 
wheel  to  go  rounds  in  the  brook  when  summertime 
is  come. 

The  time  it  took  to  pick  up  those  rocks  —  it  was 
a  time  long.  I  did  like  to  do  it.  I  had  thinks  it 
would  be  of  helps  to  the  papa.  After  they  was  all 
picked  up  and  carried  over  by  the  brook,  I  did  go 
to  the  papa  to  see  what  more  helps  I  could  be.  He 
was  talking  with  the  husband  of  Elsie.  When  I  did 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  139 

ask  him  what  helps  I  could  be,  he  told  me  to  run 
away  from  there  —  he  wanted  to  talk. 

I  so  did.  I  got  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus, 
and  we  went  to  the  woods.  Brave  Horatius  did 
come  a-following  after.  And  Louis  II,  le  Grand 
Conde,  did  ride  in  the  sleeve  of  my  warm  red  dress. 
As  we  did  go  along,  the  leaves  of  salal  did  make 
little  rustles.  They  were  little  askings.  They  had 
wants  to  know  what  day  this  was.  I  made  stops 
along  the  way  to  tell  them  it  was  the  going-away 
day  of  Gentile  Bellini  in  1507  and  Sir  Joshua 
Reynolds  in  1792  and  John  Keats  in  1821  and  the 
horning  day  of  George  Frederick  Handel  in  1685. 
I  have  thinks  they  and  the  tall  fir  trees  were  glad 
to  know. 

Brave  Horatius  barked  a  bark  and  we  went  on. 
He  looked  a  look  back  to  see  if  we  was  coming. 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  did  cuddle  up 
more  close  in  my  arms.  We  saw  six  birds  and  I  did 
sing  to  Brave  Horatius  the  bird  song  of  grandpere 
of  roitelet  and  ortolan  and  bruant  and  etourneau  and 
rossignol  and  tourterelle  and  durbec  and  orfraie 
and  roussetU  and  loriot  and  nonnette  and  sarcelle  and 
draine  and  epeiche  and  cygne  and  hirondelle  and  aigle 
and  ramier  and  tarin  and  rousserolle  and  emerillon 
and  sittelle.  Brave  Horatius  and  William  Shake 
speare  do  have  likes  for  that  song.  Sometimes  I 
bo  sing  it  to  them  four  times  a  day. 

We  all  did  go  on  until  we  were  come  near  to 
where  were  two  men  of  the  mill  by  the  far  woods. 


i4o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

They  were  making  divides  of  a  very  large  log.  They 
were  making  it  to  be  many  short  logs.  There 
was  a  big  saw  going  moves  between.  One  man 
did  push  it  and  one  man  did  pull  it.  I  went  on. 
I  did  look  a  look  back.  I  had  sees  there  was  a 
tall  fern  growing  by  the  foot  of  one  man,  and  he 
did  have  his  new  overalls  cut  oif  where  they  do 
meet  the  boots.  I  wonder  why  it  is  the  lumber- 
camp  folk  do  cut  off  their  overalls  where  they  do 
meet  the  boots.  When  they  so  cut  them,  they  get 
fringy  —  and  such  fringes  are  more  long  than  other 
fringes.  I  wonder  why  it  is  they  so  cut  them  —  it 
maybe  is  because  they  so  want  fringes  about  the 
edge  of  the  legs  of  their  overalls.  I  would  have 
prefers  for  ruffles. 

We  did  go  on.  We  went  a  little  way  on,  and  we 
had  sees  of  more  folks  of  the  camp  by  the  mill  by 
the  far  woods.  I  did  make  a  climb  upon  an  old 
tree-root  to  have  sees  of  them  at  work.  Brave 
Horatius  made  a  jump  up,  and  he  came  in  a  walk 
over  to  where  me  and  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  were  sitting.  We  had  seeing  of  them  all  work 
ing.  I  have  thinks  the  folks  that  live  in  the  lumber 
camps  —  they  are  kindly  folk.  When  they  come 
home  from  work  at  eventime,  I  do  so  like  to  sit  on 
a  stump  and  watch  them  go  by.  They  come  in  twos 
and  threes.  They  do  carry  their  dinner-pails  in 
their  hands.  And  some  do  whistle  as  they  come. 
And  some  do  talk.  And  some  that  do  see  me  sitting 
on  the  stump  do  come  aside  and  give  to  me  the 


u  o 

§§ 

V    W 


h  H 

PLH  W 

5  W 

3  a 

V  o 

i  Q 

w  ^ 

i 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  141 

scraps  in  their  dinner-pails.  Some  have  knowing 
of  the  needs  I  do  have  for  scraps  in  the  nursery  and 
the  hospital.  And  too,  when  they  come  home  from 
work  in  the  far  woods,  the  men  do  bring  bits  of 
moss  and  nice  velvet  caterpillars  and  little  rocks. 
Some  do.  And  these  they  give  to  me  for  my  nature 
collections.  And  I  feel  joy  feels  all  over.  Brave 
Horatius  does  bark  joy  barks.  He  does  know  and 
I  do  know  the  folks  that  live  in  the  lumber  camps  — 
they  are  kindly  folks. 

Morning  is  glad  on  the  hills.  I  hear  a  song  like 
unto  the  song  of  the  verdier.  The  sky  sings  in  blue 
tones.  The  earth  sings  in  green.  I  am  so  happy. 
The  mamma  is  gone  for  a  visit  away.  Before  her 
going  she  did  set  me  to  mind  the  baby.  I  do  so. 
In  between  times  I  print,  and  I  do  spell  over  and 
over  the  words  in  my  two  books  Angel  Father  and 
Angel  Mother  did  make.  I  sing-song  the  letters 
of  the  words  when  I  go  adown  the  road.  So  I  do 
when  I  am  in  the  house  when  the  mamma  is  n't  at 
home.  I  do  not  so  when  she  is  at  home,  because 
she  won't  let  me. 

Now  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  is  calling  me 
out  in  the  pasture.  I  expect  she  wants  an  apple  or 
a  sugar-lump.  But  I  cannot  have  goes  out  there  to 
the  pasture  because  the  mamma  did  say  for  me  to 
mind  the  baby  and  mind  the  house.  I  sing  to  the 
baby  words  out  of  the  two  books  and  the  song 
about  Iraouaddy  and  the  bird-song  of  grandpere. 


i42  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

And  I  have  minded  the  house  as  the  mamma  did 
say  for  me  to  do.  First  I  swept  the  floors  in  a  care 
ful  way.  The  broom  made  bobby  moves.  That 
broom  in  my  hands  makes  not  moves  like  the  moves 
it  does  make  in  the  hands  of  the  mamma.  It  has  so 
much  of  tallness.  I  look  looks  up  its  handle.  And 
afterwards  I  did  the  windows  a  wash  up  and  down 
with  a  cloth  that  did  have  bon  ami  on  it.  When 
the  windows  do  get  dirt  on  them  it  is  quite  a  worry 
on  the  mamma's  mind.  She  so  likes  to  have  all 
things  clean.  I  have  thinks  maybe  she  will  have 
some  glad  feels  way  down  in  her  heart  where  one 
cannot  see  them  when  she  is  come  home  and  has 
seeing  of  the  windows  made  clean. 

And  more  helps  I  have  done.  Most  every  week 
there  is  patches  to  fix  on  clothes  that  have  needs  of 
them.  Patching  is  quite  a  worry  on  the  mamma's 
mind.  It  will  be  so  no  more.  I  have  found  a  better 
way.  While  she  was  gone  away  to-day  I  did  get  all 
the  week's  patching  done.  First  I  began  on  the 
papa's  undershirt.  It  needed  a  big  patch  on  the 
elbow.  The  mamma  had  cut  out  the  patch  and 
pinned  it  there  on  the  sleeve  near  unto  the  hole. 
I  patched  it  on  with  china-mending  glue  guaran 
teed  to  stick. 

Then  I  did  do  all  the  other  patching  that  was  in 
the  basket.  It  did  take  most  all  the  china-mending 
glue.  When  I  did  see  it  was  most  all  gone,  I  did 
have  remembers  of  that  kettle  that  I  have  heard 
the  mamma  say  she  has  wishes  its  lid  would  stick 
on  tight.  It  is  always  a-coming  .off.  I  did  fix  that 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  143 

lid  on  that  kettle  so  it  will  stay  as  tight  as  the 
mamma  has  wishes  for  it  to.  And  then  I  did  put 
the  bottle  that  used  to  be  full  of  china-mending 
glue  back  in  its  place  on  the  lamp-shelf. 

The  baby  had  wake-ups  and  I  did  sing  it  to  sleep. 
When  sleeps  was  come  upon  the  baby,  the  mamma 
did  come  in  the  door.  First  she  went  to  look  upon 
her  dear  baby  sleeping  there  on  the  bed.  She  said 
now  she  was  going  to  mend  those  two  mush-dishes. 
And  she  got  the  pieces  of  them  from  the  cupboard. 
She  put  them  on  the  cook-table.  And  then  the 
mamma  went  to  get  the  china-mending  glue  guar 
anteed  to  stick.  There  was  none  in  the  bottle.  I 
knew  where  it  was  gone.  The  mamma  knew  too. 
After  she  did  spank  for  some  long  time,  she  did  ask 
me  what  I  did  with  all  that  glue.  It  took  quite 
some  time  to  tell  her  about  Elsie's  baby's  bottle 
that  she  had  wishes  for  the  nipple  to  stick  on  tight, 
and  about  all  the  patches  the  china-mending  glue 
did  fix,  and  all  the  other  things  that  it  did  fix. 

When  I  got  to  the  end  she  did  spank  me  again. 
She  said  that  was  to  be  good  on.  Now  I  do  think 
it  was  real  kind  of  her  to  tell  me  what  that  last 
spanking  was  for.  Most  times  I  don't  know  what  I 
get  spanked  for.  And  I  do  like  to  know,  because  if 
I  did  have  knows  what  I  was  spanked  for,  I'd  be 
real  careful  about  doing  what  it  was  again,  if  it  was 
not  helping  folks  of  the  fields  and  woods.  I  have 
to  do  that  no  matter  how  many  spanks  I  do  get  for 
it.  But  there  is  so  much  joy  in  the  woods  and  does 
help  spank  feels  to  hurt  not  so  much.  Now  I  think 


144  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  will  go  feed  the  folks  in  the  nursery,  and  then  I 
will  go  to  have  vesper  service  in  the  cathedral. 

Most  all  this  afternoon-time  I  have  been  out  in 
the  field  —  the  one  that  is  nearest  unto  the  woods. 
I  have  been  having  talks  with  William  Shakespeare. 
To-day  he  is  not  working  in  the  woods  with  the 
other  horses.  He  is  having  a  rest-day.  He  was 
laying  down  near  unto  one.  of  the  altars  I  have 
builded  for  Saint  Louis.  He  did  lay  there  all  the 
afternoon.  Tiredness  was  upon  him.  I  gave  his 
nose  rubs,  and  his  neck  and  ears,  too.  And  I  did 
tell  him  poems  and  sing  him  songs.  He  has  likes  for 
me  to  so  do.  After  I  did  sing  him  more,  sleeps  did 
come  upon  him.  The  breaths  he  did  breathe  while 
he  was  going  to  sleep,  they  were  such  long  breaths. 
And  I  gave  unto  him  more  pats  on  the  nose  and 
pats  on  the  neck.  We  are  chums  —  William  Shake 
speare  and  me.  This  evening  I  will  come  again  to 
wake  him.  I  '11  come  just  before  suppertime,  so  he 
may  go  in  with  the  other  horses  to  eat  his  supper 
in  the  barn. 

I  did.  Sleeps  was  yet  upon  him.  He  looked  so 
tired  lying  there.  I  went  up  to  pet  his  front  leg, 
but  it  was  stiff.  I  petted  him  on  the  nose  —  and  his 
nose  it  was  so  cold.  I  called  him,  but  he  did  not 
answer.  I  said  again,  "William  Shakespeare,  don't 
you  hear  me  calling?"  but  he  did  not  answer.  I 
have  thinks  he  is  having  a  long  rest  so  he  will  have 
ready  feels  to  pull  the  heavy  poles  on  to-morrow.  I 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  145 

now  go  goes  to  tell  the  man  that  wears  gray  neck 
ties  and  is  kind  to  mice  about  William  Shake 
speare  having  all  this  rest-day  and  how  he  has 
sleeps  in  the  field  with  the  pink  ribbon  around  his 
neck  that  the  fairies  did  bring.  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  is  going  goes  with  me.  We  will  wait 
on  the  stump  by  that  path  he  does  follow  when  he 
comes  home  from  work  at  eventime. 

We  are  come  back..  The  man  that  wears  gray 
neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  go  with  us  to  see 
William  Shakespeare  having  his  long  sleep  there  in 
the  field  by  the  altar  of  Saint  Louis.  Now  I  do 
have  understanding.  My  dear  William  Shake 
speare  will  no  more  have  wake-ups  again.  Rob 
Ryder  cannot  give  him  whippings  no  more.  He  has 
gone  to  a  long  sleep  —  a  very  long  sleep.  He  just 
had  goes  because  tired  feels  was  upon  him.  I  have 
so  lonesome  feels  for  him,  but  I  am  glad  that  Rob 
Ryder  cannot  whip  him  now  no  more.  I  have 
covered  him  over  with  leaves.  To  find  enough,  I 
went  to  the  far  end  of  the  near  woods.  I  gathered 
them  into  my  apron.  Sometimes  I  could  hardly  see 
my  way  because  I  just  could  not  keep  from  crying. 
I  have  such  lonesome  feels.  William  Shakespeare 
did  have  an  understanding  soul.  And  I  have  knows 
his  soul  will  not  have  forgets  of  the  willows  by  the 
singing  creek.  Often  I  will  leave  a  message  there  on 
a  leaf  for  him.  I  have  thinks  his  soul  is  not  far 
gone  away.  There  are  little  blue  fleurs  a-blooming 
where  he  did  lay  him  down  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XX 

Of  the  Little  Song-Notes  that  Dance  about  Babies;  and  of  the 
Solemn  Christening  of  Solomon  Grundy. 

TO-DAY  was  wash-day  come  again.  After  I  did 
do  my  parts  of  the  washing,  I  did  go  to  feed  the  folks 
in  the  nursery.  When  I  was  come  back  again,  I  did 
start  to  make  things  out  of  clay.  I  was  making 
vases  out  of  clay  when  the  mamma  called  me  to 
come  empty  the  wash-water.  There  were  two  tubs 
full  of  water.  That's  an  awful  lot  of  water  to 
empty.  But  I  carry  it  out  in  the  wash-pan.  And 
wash-pansfull  of  water  are  not  so  much  water  at  a 
time,  but  they  soon  empty  the  tub. 

Then  the  mamma  did  have  me  to  weed  onions. 
There  were  an  awful  lot  of  weeds  trying  to  grow  up 
around  those  onions.  It  took  a  very  long  time  to 
pull  all  the  weeds.  And  my  back  did  get  some  tired 
feels,  but  I  did  get  those  weeds  pulled  out.  I  have 
thinks  the  onions  were  saying,  when  the  wind  did 
rustle  them,  "We  thank  you  for  the  more  room 
we  now  have  got  to  grow  in."  Folks  growing  in  a 
garden  do  say  interest  things. 

From  the  onion  garden  I  did  go  to  the  Jardin  des 
Tuileries.  I  so  did  go  to  have  a  little  service  there, 
for  this  is  the  borning  day  of  Charles  de  Valois  in 
1270,  and  the  going-away  day  of  Saint  Gregoire  in 
604.  Felix  Mendelssohn  did  ride  in  my  pocket  to 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  147 

service.  He  did  sleep  most  of  the  time,  though.  I 
did  begin  to  sing  by  the  two  little  trees  I  have 
planted,  for  Saint  Gregoire  I  and  Charles  de  Valois. 
I  first  did  sing,  "Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanctus,  Dom- 
inus  Deus,  Hosanna  in  excelsis."  While  I  was 
singing,  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium  came.  They  did  wait  while  I  did  sing  two 
more  songs.  Then  I  said  a  long  prayer  and  a  little 
prayer. 

Afterwards  we  did  start  to  go  along  the  path. 
We  went  a  little  way.  Then  I  did  go  aside.  I  went 
aside  to  the  house  of  Elsie,  to  see  the  new  baby.  It 
was  sleeping  in  its  cradle  that  the  husband  of  Elsie 
made  out  of  a  box.  He  put  rockers  on  the  box  and 
Elsie  put  soft  feels  in  it.  After  the  box  did  have 
rockers  on  it  and  soft  feels  in  it,  they  did  take  the 
baby  girl  from  the  cradle  and  lay  her  in  the  bed. 
And  now  everyday,  except  the  day  she  does  go  with 
her  mother  Elsie  to  visit  her  grandma,  the  baby 
does  lay  in  the  cradle.  And  Elsie  does  rock  the 
cradle  with  her  foot  while  she  sews.  She  sings  and 
sings.  She  sings  "Rock-a-by  baby  in  the  tree-top; 
when  the  wind  blows,  the  cradle  will  rock."  And 
while  she  does  sing,  I  have  knowings  that  the  little 
song-notes  do  dance  about  the  cradle  of  the  baby. 

To-day  I  did  stay  quite  a  time  long  to  look  upon 
the  face  of  the  baby.  I  so  do  love  babies.  Every 
night  I  pray  for  the  twins  I  want  when  I  grow  up. 
Some  nights  I  pray  that  they  may  have  blue  eyes 
and  golden  hair.  Other  nights  I  pray  for  them  to 


148  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

have  brown  eyes  and  brown  hair.  Sadie  McKibben 
tells  me  I  better  stop  changing  my  prayers  about 
so  much,  or  the  angels  may  bring  to  me  when  I  grow 
up  twins  with  streaked  hair  and  variegated  eyes. 

After  I  did  look  upon  the  little  baby  at  the  house 
of  Elsie,  I  did  have  thinks  to  go  to  the  house  of 
Sadie  McKibben.  I  so  did  go.  As  I  did  go  along,  I 
did  have  wonders  if  mothers  can  see  the  little  song- 
notes  that  dance  about  their  babies'  cradles  when 
they  sing  lullaby  songs  to  them.  I  went  on  across 
the  field.  When  I  was  come  to  a  stump  by  the 
fence  corner,  I  stopped.  I  heard  a  criard  noise.  It 
came  from  near  the  stump.  I  think  it  was  a  mulot. 
I  looked  looks  about.  I  had  not  seeing  of  it.  I 
went  on.  I  saw  a  blue  jay  near  by  the  old  log  where 
I  did  hide  nineteen  acorn  children  on  a  gray  day  in 
September.  He  was  looking  tooks  about.  I  watched 
him  make  a  flyaway  with  one  of  my  acorns.  I  did 
count  what  was  left.  There  was  only  a  few. 

I  went  on.  When  I  was  come  to  the  house  of 
Sadie  McKibben,  she  was  washing  clothes.  On 
washing  days  Sadie  McKibben  does  look  a  bit  dif 
ferent  from  her  appears  on  other  days.  On  wash 
days  along  in  the  afternoon  her  hair  does  hang  in 
strings  about  her  face.  Her  dress  does  have  crin 
kles  all  adown  it.  And  her  nice  blue  gingham  apron 
with  cross  stitches  on  it  does  have  rumples  and 
soapy  smells.  I  do  know  so  for  I  do  smell  those 
soapy  smells  when  I  cuddle  close  to  her  apron  on 
wash-days. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  149 

To-day  I  did  stay  by  the  side  of  Sadie  McKibben 
for  a  little  time.  Then  I  did  go  to  weed  her  onions 
for  her.  They  did  have  looks  like  they  did  have 
needs  for  more  room  to  grow  in.  And  while  I  did 
weed  her  onions,  I  did  see  many  beautiful  things 
about.  There  is  so  much  to  see  near  about  and  a 
little  way  off,  and  there  is  so  much  to  hear.  And 
most  all  the  time  I  am  seeing,  I  am  hearing,  and  I 
do  have  such  glad  feels. 

To-day  we  did  christen  Solomon  Grundy.  He 
was  borned  a  week  ago  yesterday  on  Monday. 
That's  why  we  did  name  him  Solomon  Grundy. 
And  this  being  Tuesday  we  did  christen  him,  for  in 
the  rhyme,  the  grandpa  does  sing  to  the  children 
about  Solomon  Grundy  being  christened  on  Tues 
day.  Yesterday  I  made  him  a  christening  robe  out 
of  a  new  dish-towel  that  was  flapping  in  the  wind. 
But  the  aunt  had  no  appreciation  of  the  great  need 
of  a  christening  robe  for  Solomon  Grundy.  And 
my  ears  were  slapped  until  I  thought  my  head 
would  pop  open,  but  it  did  n't.  It  just  ached.  Last 
night  when  I  went  to  bed  I  prayed  for  the  ache  to 
to  go  away.  This  morning  when  I  woke  up  it  had 
gone  out  the  window.  I  did  feel  good  feels  from  my 
nightcap  to  my  toes.  I  thought  about  the  christen 
ing,  and  early  on  this  morning,  before  I  yet  did  eat 
my  breakfast,  I  went  out  the  window  that  the 
ache  went  out  in  the  night.  I  went  from  the  win 
dow  to  the  pig-pen. 


ISO  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  climbed  into  the  pig-pen.  I  crawled  on  my 
hands  and  knees  back  under  the  shed  where  he  and 
his  sisters  five  and  his  little  brother  were  all  hav 
ing  breakfast  from  their  mother.  I  gently  did  pull 
away  by  his  hind-legs,  from  among  all  those  dear 
baby  pigs,  he  who  had  the  most  curl  in  his  tail.  I 
took  him  to  the  pump  and  pumped  water  on  him  to 
get  every  speck  of  dirt  off.  He  squealed  because 
the  water  was  cold.  So  I  took  some  of  the  warm 
water  the  mamma  was  going  to  wash  the  milk-pans 
in  and  I  did  give  him  a  warm  bath  in  the  wash-pan. 
Then  he  was  the  pinkiest  white  pig  you  ever  saw. 
I  took  the  baby's  talcum-powder  can  and  I  shook 
it  lots  of  times  all  over  him.  When  the  powder 
sprinkled  in  his  eyes,  he  did  object  with  a  regular 
baby-pig  squeal.  And  I  climbed  right  out  the  bed 
room  window  with  him,  because  the  mamma  heard 
his  squeal  and  she  was  coming  fast.  I  did  go  to  the 
barn  in  a  hurry,  for  in  the  barn  yesterday  I  did  hide 
the  christening  robe.  When  I  reached  the  top  of 
the  hay  I  stopped  to  put  it  on  Solomon  Grundy. 
Then  we  proceeded  to  the  cathedral. 

A  little  ways  we  did  go,  and  I  remembered  how 
on  the  borning  day  of  him  I  did  ask  that  grand  fir 
tree,  Good  King  Edward  I,  to  be  his  god-father. 
And  that  smaller  fir  tree  growing  by  his  side  —  the 
lovely  Queen  Eleanor  of  Castile  —  I  did  ask  to  be 
his  godmother.  We  went  aside  from  the  path  that 
leads  unto  the  cathedral.  We  went  another  way. 
We  went  adown  the  lane  to  where  dwell  Good  King 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  151 

Edward  I  and  the  lovely  Queen  Eleanor.  And  there 
beside  them  Solomon  Grundy  was  christened.  They 
who  were  present  at  the  christening  were  these  — 
Saint  Louis  and  Charlemagne  and  Hugh  Capet 
and  King  Alfred  and  Theodore  Roosevelt  and 
William  Wordsworth  and  Homer  and  Cicero  and 
Brave  Horatius  and  Isaiah.  These  last  two  did 
arrive  in  a  hurry  in  the  midst  of  the  service.  Being 
dogs  with  understanding  souls,  they  did  realize  the 
sacredness  of  the  occasion  and  they  stood  silent 
near  Charlemagne. 

When  we  got  most  to  the  end  of  the  service  just 
at  that  very  solemn  moment  while  I  was  waiting 
for  Good  King  Edward  I  and  his  lovely  Queen 
Eleanor  of  Castile  to  bestow  their  blessing  upon 
the  white  head  of  the  babe,  he  gave  a  squeal  —  just 
the  kind  of  a  squeal  all  baby  pigs  give  when  they 
are  wanting  their  dinner.  After  the  naming  of  him, 
I  placed  around  his  neck  a  little  wreath  that  I 
made  in  the  evening  yesterday  for  him.  Then  I  did 
sing  softly  a  hymn  to  the  morning  and  came  again 
home  to  the  pig-pen  with  Solomon  Grundy. 

When  I  got  to  the  corner  of  the  barn,  I  pulled  off 
his  christening  robe.  I  did  hide  it  again  in  the  hay. 
Then  I  climbed  into  the  pig-pen.  I  did  say  the 
Lord's  prayer  softly  over  the  head  of  Solomon 
Grundy.  After  I  said  Amen  I  did  poke  him  in 
among  all  his  sisters  and  near  unto  his  mother. 
Aphrodite  gave  a  grunt  of  satisfaction,  also  did 
Solomon  Grundy. 


152  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  went  to  the  house.  I  climbed  in  the  window 
again.  I  took  off  my  nightcap  and  my  nightgown. 
I  did  get  dressed  in  a  quick  way.  The  little  girl  was 
romping  in  the  bed.  I  helped  her  to  get  her  clothes 
on.  Then  we  went  to  the  kitchen  for  our  breakfast. 
The  mamma  was  in  the  cellar.  She  did  hear  me 
come  into  the  kitchen.  She  came  in.  With  her 
came  a  kindling  and  a  hazel  switch. 

After  she  did  spank  me,  she  told  me  to  get  the 
mush  for  the  little  girl's  breakfast.  It  was  in  a 
kettle.  I  spooned  it  out  into  a  blue  dish  that  came 
as  premium  in  the  box  of  mush  when  they  brought 
it  new  from  the  mill  town.  After  we  did  eat  our 
mush  and  drink  our  milk,  the  mamma  told  me  to 
clear  the  table  and  go  tend  chickens.  I  carried  feed 
to  them.  I  scattered  it  in  shakes.  The  chickens 
came  in  a  quick  way.  Fifteen  of  those  chickens  I 
did  give  names  to,  but  it's  hard  to  tell  some  of 
them  apart.  Most  of  them  have  about  the  same 
number  of  speckles  on  them.  I  counted  all  the 
chickens  that  were  there.  There  were  n't  as  many 
there  as  ought  to  be  there.  Some  came  not.  These 
were  the  hens  setting  in  the  chicken-house.  I  went 
in.  I  lifted  them  off.  They  were  fidgety  and  fluffy 
and  clucky.  I  did  carry  them  out  to  the  feed. 

While  they  were  eating  breakfast  I  counted  their 
eggs.  I  made  a  discovery.  Minerva  had  n't  as 
many  eggs  as  the  others.  That  meant  she  would  n't 
have  as  many  children  as  the  others  would  have.  I 
did  begin  to  feel  sorry  about  that,  because  already 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  153 

I  had  picked  out  names  for  her  fifteen  children  and 
there  in  her  nest  there  were  only  twelve  eggs.  I 
did  n't  know  what  to  do,  and  then  I  had  a  think 
what  to  do.  I  did  it.  I  took  an  egg  from  each  nest 
of  the  three  other  setting  hens.  That  fixed  things. 

Then  I  thought  I  would  go  on  an  exploration 
trip  and  to  the  nursery,  and  there  I  would  give  the 
folks  a  talk  on  geology.  But  then  the  mamma  called 
me  to  scour  the  pots  and  pans.  That  is  something  I 
do  not  like  to  do  at  all.  So  all  the  time  I  'm  scouring 
them  I  keep  saying  lovely  verses,  —  that  helps  so 
much,  —  and  by  and  by  the  pots  and  pans  are  all 
clean.  After  that  all  day  the  mamma  did  have  more 
works  for  me  to  do.  There  was  more  wood  to  bring 
in.  There  was  steps  to  scrub.  There  was  cream  to 
be  shaked  into  butter.  There  was  raking  to  do  in 
the  yard.  There  was  carpet-strings  to  sew  together. 
In-between  times  there  was  the  baby  to  tend.  And 
all  the  time  all  day  long  I  did  have  longings  to  go 
on  exploration  trips.  The  fields  were  calling.  The 
woods  were  calling.  I  heard  the  wind.  He  was 
making  music  in  the  forest.  It  was  soft  music.  It 
was  low.  It  was  an  echo  of  the  songs  the  flowers 
were  singing.  Even  if  there  was  much  works  to  do, 
hearing  the  voices  helped  me  to  get  the  works  done 
in  the  way  they  ought  to  be  done. 

The  most  hurry  time  of  all  was  the  time  near 
eventime,  for  there  was  going  to  be  company  to  eat 
at  the  table.  The  mamma  was  in  a  hurry  to  get 
supper.  So  I  helped  her.  She  only  had  time  to  give 


154  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

one  shake  of  salt  to  the  potatoes,  so  I  gave  them 
three  more.  She  did  not  have  time  to  put  sauce  on 
the  peas,  so  I  flavored  them  with  lemon  extract, 
for  the  mamma  is  so  fond  of  lemon  flavoring  in 
lemon  pies.  When  she  made  the  biscuits,  she  was  in 
such  a  hurry  she  forgot  to  set  them  on  a  box  back 
of  the  stove  for  an  airing,  as  usual,  before  putting 
them  in  the  oven.  Being  as  she  forgot  to  do  it, 
while  she  was  in  the  cellar  to  get  the  butter  I  did 
take  the  pan  of  biscuits  out  of  the  oven  and  put 
them  under  the  stove  so  they  would  not  miss  their 
usual  airing.  Then  I  did  go  to  the  wood-shed  for 
more  wood.  When  I  did  put  it  in  the  wood-box  the 
mamma  reached  over  for  me.  She  jerked  me.  She 
spanked  me  with  her  hand  and  the  hair-brush  and 
the  pankcake-turner.  Then  she  shoved  me  out  the 
door.  She  said  for  me  to  get  out  and  stay  out  of  her 
way. 

I  came  here  to  the  barn.  I  sit  here  printing. 
In-between  times  I  stretch  out  on  the  hay.  I  feel 
tired  and  sore  all  over.  I  wonder  for  what  it  was 
the  mamma  gave  me  that  spanking.  I  have  tried 
so  hard  to  help  her  to-day.  Solomon  Grundy  is 
grunting  here  beside  me.  I  went  by  and  got  him  as 
I  came  along.  Here  on  the  hay  I  showed  to  him  the 
writings  in  the  two  books  my  Angel  Father  and 
Angel  Mother  made  for  me.  These  books  are  such 
a  comfort,  and  when  I  have  them  right  along  with  me, 
Angel  Father  and  Angel  Mother  do  seem  nearer. 
I  did  bow  my  head  and  ask  my  guardian  angel 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  155 

to  tell  them  there  in  heaven  about  Solomon  Grundy 
being  christened  to-day.  Then  I  drew  him  up 
closer  to  my  gingham  apron  and  I  patted  him  often. 
And  some  of  the  pats  I  gave  to  him  were  for  the 
lovely  Peter  Paul  Rubens  that  used  to  be.  And  the 
more  pats  I  gave  Solomon  Grundy,  the  closer  he 
snuggled  up  beside  me.  To-night  I  shall  sing  to  him 
a  lullaby  song  as  I  cuddle  him  up  all  snowy  white  in 
his  christening  robe,  before  I  take  him  out  to  his 
mother  Aphrodite  in  the  pig-pen. 

I  now  have  a  bottle  with  a  nipple  on  it  for  Solo 
mon  Grundy.  But  he  won't  pay  much  attention 
to  it.  He  has  prefers  to  get  his  dinner  from  his 
mother  Aphrodite  out  in  the  pig-pen. 

After  he  so  did  have  his  dinner  to-day,  and  after 
my  morning  works  were  done  and  I  did  have  that 
hen  started  on  a  set  —  that  hen  had  wants  to  set  so 
much ;  I  did  have  an  awful  time  getting  her  off  the 
nest  at  feeding-time.  I  had  thinks  I  would  set  her 
myself,  being  as  the  mamma  does  n't  want  to  bother 
about  it.  I  had  thinks  I  would  put  three  eggs  under 
her  to-day,  and  three  more  when  comes  to-morrow, 
and  three  on  the  next  day,  and  three  on  the  next. 
That  will  give  her  a  good  setting  of  eggs  to  start  on. 

To-day,  after  I  so  did  have  her  started  on  a  set 
with  three  eggs,  then  I  went  to  visit  Dear  Love.  I 
did  cuddle  up  Solomon  Grundy  in  one  arm  and 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  in  the  other  arm. 
And  so  we  went  to  visit  Dear  Love.  Solomon 


156  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

Grundy  wore  his  christening  robe  and  he  looked 
very  sweet  in  it.  I  gave  him  a  nice  warm  bath  before 
we  did  start,  so  as  to  get  all  the  pig-pen  smells  off. 
Sometimes  smells  do  get  in  that  pig-pen,  though  I 
do  give  it  brush-outs  every  day,  and  I  do  carry  old 
leaves  and  bracken  ferns  and  straws  in  for  beds  for 
Aphrodite.  After  I  did  give  Solomon  Grundy  his 
bath  I  did  dust  talcumatum  powder  over  him.  I 
was  real  careful  not  to  get  any  in  his  eyes. 

As  we  did  go  along  I  did  sing  to  them  a  lullaby 
about  Nonette  and  Saint  Firmin,  and  more  I  did 
sing  about  Iraouaddy.  We  went  on.  Then  I  did 
tell  them  about  the  beautiful  love  the  man  of  the 
long  step  that  whistles  most  all  of  the  time  does 
have  for  the  pensee  girl  with  the  far-away  look  in 
her  eyes.  But  he  is  afraid  to  tell  her  about  it  — 
Sadie  McKibben  says  he  is.  Sadie  McKibben  says 
he  is  a  very  shy  man.  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  did  go  to  sleeps  while  I  was  telling  them  about 
it  —  and  Solomon  Grundy  did  grunt  a  little  grunt. 
It  was  a  grunt  for  more  sings.  So  I  did  sing  to 

him, — 

"Did  he  smile  his  work  to  see? 
Did  he  who  made  the  lamb  make  thee? " 

He  had  likes  for  that  song  and  he  grunted  a  grunt 
with  a  question  in  it.  So  I  did  sing  him  some  more, 
"Indeed  he  did,  Solomon  Grundy,  indeed  he  did. 
And  the  hairs  of  thy  baby  head  —  they  are  num 
bered."  Soon  I  shall  be  counting  them  to  see  how 
many  they  are. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  157 

We  went  on  to  the  house  of  Dear  Love.  When  we 
were  come  to  there,  the  husband  of  Dear  Love  was 
digging  in  the  ground  under  the  front  window  of 
their  little  house.  As  he  did  dig,  he  did  pick  up  the 
little  rocks  that  were  under  the  window  and  he  did 
lay  them  aside.  I  did  have  asks  what  for  was  he 
digging  up  the  ground  under  their  window.  And  he 
did  give  explanations.  He  is  making  a  flower-bed, 
and  when  it  is  made,  Dear  Love  is  going  to  plant 
morning-glory  seeds  in  it.  And  then  morning-glory 
vines  will  grow  up  around  the  window.  I  think  that 
will  be  so  nice.  I  did  ask  him  how  far  up  they  would 
grow.  And  he  reached  up  his  hand  to  where  they 
have  thinks  the  morning-glory  vines  will  grow  to. 
I  looked  up.  It  was  high  up.  It  was  lots  more  up 
than  I  have  growed  to.  Now  I  think  it  would  be 
nice  to  be  a  morning-glory  vine  and  grow  up  and 
up.  In  the  fields  I  have  had  seeing  that  the  little 
white  ones  there  do  grow  out  and  out.  I  did  ask 
them  how  many  leaves  does  the  morning-glory 
have,  that  is  going  to  grow  up  by  their  window. 
They  both  did  say  they  were  sorry  but  they  did  not 
know.  Then  I  did  tell  them  that  they  did  not  need 
to  have  cry  feels  about  it,  because  when  it  is  grow 
ing  up  we  can  learn  together  how  many  leaves  it 
has.  And  he  did  stop  digging  digs,  to  take  Solomon 
Grundy  in  his  arms,  and  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  had  allows  for  Dear  Love  to  pet  his 
paws. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

How  Opal  Names  Names  of  the  Lambs  of  Aidan  of  lona,  and 
Seeks  for  the  Soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens. 

TO-DAY  was  a  very  stormy  day  —  more  rainy 
than  other  stormy  days.  So  we  had  cathedral 
service  on  the  hay  in  the  barn.  Mathilde  Plan- 
tagenet  was  below  us  in  her  stall,  and  she  did  moo 
moos  while  I  did  sing  the  choir-service.  Plato  and 
Pliny,  the  two  bats,  hung  on  the  rafters  in  a  dark 
corner.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  perched  on  the 
back  of  Brave  Horatius.  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupi 
ter  Zeus  sat  at  my  feet  and  munched  leaves  while  I 
said  prayers.  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  was  on  my 
right  shoulder,  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  was 
on  my  left  shoulder  —  part  of  the  time;  then  he  did 
crawl  in  my  sleeve  to  have  a  sleep.  Solomon  Grundy 
was  asleep  by  my  side  in  his  christening  robe,  and 
a  sweet  picture  he  was  in  it.  On  my  other  side  was 
his  little  sister,  Anthonya  Mundy,  who  has  not  got 
as  much  curl  in  her  tail  as  has  Solomon  Grundy. 

Clementine,  the  Plymouth  Rock  hen,  was  late 
come  to  service.  She  came  up  from  the  stall  of  the 
gentle  Jersey  cow  just  when  I  was  through  singing 
"Hosanna  in  excelsis."  She  came  and  perched  on 
the  back  of  Brave  Horatius,  back  of  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium.  Then  I  said  more  prayers,  and  Brave 
Horatius  did  bark  Amen,  When  he  so  did,  Clem- 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  159 

entine  tumbled  off  his  back.  She  came  over  by 
me.  I  had  thinks  it  would  be  nice  if  her  pretty 
gray  feathers  were  blue.  I  gave  her  a  gentle  pat  and 
then  I  did  begin  the  talk  service.  I  did  use  for 
my  text,  "Blessed  be  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they 
shall  see  God."  And  all  of  the  time  the  raindrops 
did  made  little  joy  patters  on  the  roof.  They  were 
coming  down  from  the  sky  in  a  quick  way. 

Now  is  the  begins  of  the  borning-time  of  the 
year.  I  did  hurry  home  from  school  in  a  quick  way 
in  the  afternoon  of  this  day.  Aidan  of  lona  come 
from  Lindisfarne  has  said  I  may  name  the  little 
lambs  that  now  are  coming.  All  day  I  did  have 
thinks  about  what  names  to  call  them  by.  There 
are  some  names  I  do  so  like  to  sing  the  spell  of. 
Some  names  I  do  sing  over  and  over  again  when  I 
do  go  on  explores.  I  could  hardly  wait  waits  until 
school-getting-out  time.  I  had  remembers  how 
Sadie  McKibben  says  no  child  should  grow  a  day 
old  without  having  a  name.  Now  some  of  those 
dear  baby  lambs  are  two  and  three  days  old  since 
their  borning-time. 

When  I  was  come  to  where  was  Aidan  of  lona 
come  from  Lindisfarne,  I  did  tell  him  now  I  have 
come  to  name  all  your  lambs.  He  did  have  one 
little  lamb  in  his  arms.  He  did  tell  me  as  how  it 
was  it  did  n't  belong  to  anyone,  and  it  was  lone 
some  without  a  mother.  He  said  he  had  thinks  he 
would  give  it  to  me  to  mother.  I  was  so  happy.  It 


160  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

was  very  white  and  very  soft  and  its  legs  was  slim 
and  it  had  wants  for  a  mother.  It  had  likes  for  me 
to  put  my  arms  around  it.  I  did  name  it  first  of 
all.  I  called  it  Menander  Euripides  Theocritus 
Thucydides.  It  had  likes  for  the  taste  of  my  fingers 
when  I  did  dip  them  into  the  pan  of  milk  on  the 
rock  and  then  put  them  in  its  mouth.  Its  woolly 
tail  did  wiggle  joy  wiggles.  And  I  did  dance  on  my 
toes.  I  felt  such  a  big  amount  of  satisfaction  feels 
—  having  a  lamb  to  mother. 

I  am  getting  quite  a  big  family  now.  After  I 
did  dip  my  fingers  in  the  milk  for  Menander  Eurip 
ides  Theocritus  Thucydides,  I  was  going  goes  to 
see  about  getting  a  brandy  bottle  somewhere  and 
a  nipple,  so  this  baby  lamb  could  have  a  bottle  to 
nurse  like  other  babies  hereabouts.  When  I  did 
make  a  start  to  go,  Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lin- 
disfarne  did  say,  "You  are  not  going  away  before 
you  name  the  others,  are  you?"  Of  course  I  was 
not,  and  he  said  Menander  Euripides  Theocritus 
Thucydides  was  full  up  of  milk  for  to-day,  and  I 
could  bring  his  bottle  on  the  morrow. 

Then  I  did  make  begins  to  name  the  other  lambs. 
They  were  dear  and  so  dear.  First  one  I  did  come 
to  I  did  name  Plutarch  Demosthenes;  the  next  one 
I  did  name  Marcus  Aurelius.  And  one  came  close 
by  Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindisfarne,  and  I 
called  it  Epicurus  Pythagoras.  One  did  look  a  little 
more  little  than  the  others :  I  called  him  Anacreon 
Herodotus.  One  was  more  big  than  all  the  others. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  161 

I  named  him  Homer  Archimedes  Chilon.  He  gave 
his  tail  a  wiggle  and  came  close  to  his  mother.  One 
had  a  more  short  tail  and  a  question  look  in  his 
eyes.  I  called  him  Sophocles  Diogenes.  And  one 
more  I  called  Periander  Pindar,  and  one  was  Solon 
Thales,  and  the  last  one  of  all  that  had  not  yet  a 
name,  I  did  call  him  Tibullus  Theognis.  He  was  a 
very  fuzzy  lamb  and  he  had  very  long  legs. 

The  shepherd  did  have  likes  for  the  names  I  did 
give  to  his  little  lambs,  and  the  names  I  did  give  to 
his  sheep  a  long  time  ago.  And  to-day,  when  he  did 
tell  me  how  he  did  have  likes  for  their  names,  I  did 
tell  him  how  I  have  likes  for  them  too,  and  how  I 
have  thinks  to  learn  more  about  them  when  I  do 
grow  up  more  tall.  I  told  him  how  I  did  sing  the 
spell  of  the  words  to  the  fishes  that  live  in  the  sing 
ing  creek  where  the  willows  grew.  After  I  said 
good-bye  to  all  the  other  lambs,  I  did  kiss  Menan- 
der  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  on  the  nose. 
I  have  thinks  every  eventime  I  will  kiss  him  good 
night,  because  maybe  he  does  have  lonesome  feels 
too,  and  maybe  he  does  have  longs  for  kisses  like 
the  longs  I  do  have  for  them  every  night-time. 

Before  I  was  come  to  the  house  we  do  live  in,  I 
did  make  a  stop  by  the  singing  creek  where  the 
willows  grow.  I  did  print  a  message  on  a  leaf.  It 
was  for  the  soul  of  William  Shakespeare.  I  tied  it 
on  a  willow  branch.  Then  I  did  go  by  the  cathedral 
to  say  thank  prayers  for  Menander  Euripides 
Theocritus  Thucydides.  And  I  did  have  remem- 


162  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

bers  that  this  was  the  going-away  day  of  Reine 
Marie  Amelie  in  1866  and  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
1603.  And  I  did  say  a  thank  prayer  for  the  good 
ness  of  them.  It  was  near  dark-time.  There  were 
little  whispers  in  the  woods  and  shadows  with 
velvet  fingers.  I  did  sing,  "Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanc- 
tus,  Dominus  Deus." 

Before  I  did  come  on  to  the  house  we  live  in,  I  did 
go  aside  to  have  sees  of  a  cream  lily  that  has  its 
growing  near  unto  the  cathedral.  I  have  watched 
the  leafing  of  that  lily,  and  I  have  watched  its 
budding.  A  long  time  I  have  had  thinks  about  it. 
To-day  its  blooming-time  was  come.  There  it  was. 
I  went  close  unto  it.  My  soul  was  full  of  thank  feels. 
Ever  since  the  day  when  Peter  Paul  Rubens  did 
go  away,  I  have  looked  for  his  soul  in  tree-tops  and 
all  about.  Now  I  have  knows  his  soul  does  love  to 
linger  by  this  lily.  I  did  kneel  by  it  and  say  a  thank 
prayer  for  the  blooming  of  this  fleur.  Peter  Paul 
Rubens's  soul  does  love  to  linger  near.  If  ever  I  go 
from  here,  I  will  take  with  me  this  lily  plant.  I  did 
have  feels  that  my  dear  Peter  Paul  Rubens  was 
very  near  this  eventime. 

To-day  is  more  rain  come  again.  I  like  rain.  I 
like  the  music  patters  it  does  make.  1  like  to  have 
feels  of  it  on  my  head.  When  it  rains,  I  like  to  go 
barefooted.  I  like  to  feel  the  clean  mud  by  the  lane 
ooze  up  between  my  toes.  When  I  did  see  the  rain 
coming  down  in  so  fast  a  way,  I  did  go  to  the  barn. 
And  after  I  did  have  them  off,  I  did  put  my  shoes 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  163 

and  stockings  in  the  hay.  I  went  out  to  talk  with 
Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael  about  this  day 
being  the  borning  day  of  Sanzio  Raphael  in  1483. 
Then  I  came  down  by  the  lane.  I  was  so  glad  to 
have  my  shoes  and  stockings  off.  The  feel  was  so 
good.  Having  my  shoes  and  stockings  off  made 
my  heels  feel  like  they  were  getting  wings. 

I  went  up  and  down  the  lane.  Brave  Horatius 
came  a-following  after.  I  had  thinks  to  go  see  how 
was  Minerva  in  the  hen-house.  I  saw  her  feathers 
were  more  fluffy,  and  there  was  some  more  heads 
than  hers  in  her  nest.  There  was  the  heads  of  the 
little  chickens  I  did  pick  out  names  for  before  they 
was  yet  hatched.  And  now  I  cannot  tell  them 
apart.  Minerva  had  one  baby  chicken  to  hatch 
four  days  ago,  and  one  baby  chicken  three  days 
ago,  and  one  more  baby  chicken  two  days  ago.  I 
heard  the  grandpa  say  it  was  a  puzzle  what  was 
making  that  hen  to  have  her  chickens  begin  hatch 
ing  so  soon  and  then  no  more  to  hatch  until  to-day. 
Too,  I  have  thinks  it  is  a  puzzle.  But  any  way  she 
is  going  to  have  fifteen  chickens,  because  that  day 
a  little  time  ago  I  took  one  egg  each  from  those 
hens  that  was  set  before  she  was,  so  Minerva  would 
have  the  fifteen  children  I  had  already  picked  out 
names  for. 

I  did  tell  Minerva  again  the  names  I  did  pick  out 
for  all  her  children  before  they  was  yet  hatched.  I 
told  her  Edmund  Spenser  and  John  Fletcher  and 
Francis  Beaumont  and  Jean  Racine  and  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  and  Jean  Moliere  and  Sir  Francis  Bacon 


164  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

and  Nicholas  Boileau  and  Sir  Philip  Sidney  and 
Jean  de  la  Fontaine  and  Ben  Jonson  and  Oliver 
Goldsmith  and  Cardinal  Richelieu  and  Samuel 
Taylor  Coleridge  and  Pius  VII.  And  Minerva  had 
joy  feels  when  I  did  tell  her,  and  she  ate  all  the 
grain  in  my  hand  while  I  was  telling  her. 

Minerva  is  a  very  nice  hen  and  it  is  so  nice  she 
has  so  many  children  at  once.  I  so  do  like  to  pick 
out  names  for  children.  Now  I  have  thinks  there  is 
needs  for  me  to  hurry  to  get  those  christening  robes 
done  for  her  children,  being  as  they  are  hatching 
now.  On  the  day  of  their  christening  I  will  carry 
them  in  a  little  basket  to  the  cathedral.  There  is 
needs  to  carry  little  chickens  in  a  basket,  for  they 
are  delicate.  To-day  I  did  show  Minerva  the  little 
cap  with  ruffles  on  it  that  I  have  just  made  for  her 
to  wear  to  the  cathedral  at  their  christening.  I 
made  it  like  Jenny  Strong's  morning-cap  with  ruffles 
on  it. 

After  I  did  talk  some  more  with  Minerva,  and 
she  did  chuckle  some  more  chuckles,  I  did  make  a 
start  to  go  to  the  cathedral  to  have  a  thank  service 
for  the  borning  of  Sanzio  Raphael  in  1483.  As  I  did 
go,  I  went  aside  to  the  pig-pen.  Every  time  my 
way  goes  near  to  the  way  that  goes  to  the  pig-pen 
I  do  go  that  way.  I  so  go  to  take  a  peep  at  Aphro 
dite.  She  does  have  such  a  motherly  look  with  those 
dear  baby-pigs  about  her.  How  nice  it  must  be  to 
be  a  mother-pig.  It  must  be  a  big  amount  of  sat 
isfaction,  having  so  many  babies  at  one  time. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

How  Solomon  Grundy  Falls  Sick  and  Grows  Well  again;  and 
Minerva's  Chickens  are  Christened;  and  the  Pensee  Girl, 
with  the  Far- Away  Look  in  her  Eyes,  Finds  Thirty-and- 
Three  Bunches  of  Flowers. 

TO-DAY  I  went  not  to  school.  For  a  long  time 
after  breakfast  the  mamma  did  have  me  to  cut 
potatoes  into  pieces.  To-night  and  to-morrow 
night  the  grown-ups  will  plant  the  pieces  of  pota 
toes  I  cut  to-day.  Then  by-and-by  —  after  some 
long  time  —  the  pieces  of  potato  with  eyes  on  them 
will  have  baby  potatoes  under  the  ground.  Up 
above  the  ground  they  will  be  growing  leaves  and 
flowers.  One  must  leave  an  eye  on  every  piece  of 
potato  one  plants  in  the  ground  to  grow.  It  won't 
grow  if  you  don't.  It  can't  see  how  to  grow  without 
its  eye.  All  day  to-day  I  did  be  careful  to  leave  an 
eye  on  every  piece.  And  I  did  have  meditations 
about  what  things  the  eyes  of  potatoes  do  see  there 
in  the  ground.  I  have  thinks  they  do  have  seeing 
of  black  velvet  moles  and  large  earthworms  that 
do  get  short  in  a  quick  way.  And  potato  flowers 
above  the  ground  do  see  the  doings  of  the  field  — 
and  maybe  they  do  look  away  and  see  the  willows 
that  grow  by  the  singing  creek.  I  do  wonder  if 
potato  plants  do  have  longings  to  dabble  their 
toes.  I  have  supposes  they  do  just  like  I  do.  Being 


1 66  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

a  potato  must  be  interest  —  specially  the  having 
so  many  eyes.  I  have  longings  for  more  eyes. 
There  is  much  to  see  in  this  world  all  about.  Every 
day  I  do  see  beautiful  things  everywhere  I  do  go. 

To-day  it  was  near  eventime  —  the  time  I  did 
have  all  those  potatoes  ready  for  plants.  Then  I  did 
go  to  see  Solomon  Grundy  in  the  pig-pen.  I  did 
take  a  sugar-lump  in  my  apron  pocket  for  his  dear 
mother,  Aphrodite.  She  had  appreciations  and 
well  looks.  But  the  lool^s  of  Solomon  Grundy  — 
they  were  not  well  looks.  He  did  lay  so  still  in  a 
quiet  way.  I  gave  to  him  three  looks.  I  felt  a  lump 
come  in  my  throat.  His  looks  they  were  so  different. 
I  made  a  run  for  the  wood-box  —  the  wood-box  I 
did  bring  before  for  the  getting-5n  of  Brave  Hora- 
tius  to  service  in  the  pig-pen.  I  did  step  on  it  in 
getting  Solomon  Grundy  out  of  the  pig-pen.  I  did 
have  fears  if  I  did  it  in  jumps,  as  I  always  do,  the 
jumps  might  bother  the  feelings  of  Solomon  Grundy. 
So  I  did  have  needs  for  that  box.  It  is  such  a  help. 
Every  time  I  do  get  a  place  fixed  in  the  pig-pen  so 
some  of  the  pigs  can  get  out  to  go  to  walks  and  to 
go  to  the  cathedral  service,  the  grown-ups  at  the 
ranch-house  do  always  fix  the  boards  back  again. 
So  a  box  is  helps  to  get  the  little  pigs  that  are  n't 
too  big  over  the  top. 

When  I  did  have  Solomon  Grundy  over  the  top, 
I  did  cuddle  him  up  in  my  gray  calico  apron..  I 
have  thinks  he  does  like  the  blue  one  best.  But 
to-day  he  had  not  seeings  it  was  n't  the  blue  one  I 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  167 

had  on.  He  did  not  give  his  baby  squeaks.  He  was 
only  stillness.  I  did  have  fears  that  sickness  was 
upon  him.  He  has  lost  that  piece  of  asafiditee  I  did 
tie  around  his  neck  the  other  day.  That  was  the 
last  piece  I  did  have.  It  was  the  little  piece  that 
was  left  of  the  big  piece  that  the  mamma  did  tie 
around  my  neck,  and  I  did  make  divides  with  my 
friends.  But  Solomon  Grundy  —  he  has  lost  his 
share  both  times.  He  does  lose  it  in  a  quick  way. 
And  I  did  have  no  Gastoria  to  give  him,  because 
the  mamma  has  gone  and  put  away  the  baby's 
bottle  of  Castoria  where  I  cannot  find  it. 

I  did  not  have  knowings  what  to  do  for  him.  But 
I  did  have  thinks  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties 
and  is  kind  to  mice  would  have  knowings  what  to 
do  for  the  sickness  of  Solomon  Grundy.  I  made 
starts  to  the  mill  by  the  far  woods.  Brave  Horatius 
was  waiting  at  the  barn.  He  gave  his  tail  two  wags 
and  followed  after.  We  went  by  Michael  Angelo 
Sanzio  Raphael.  I  did  tell  him  the  baby  in  my 
arms  was  sick.  I  said  a  little  prayer  over  his  head. 
We  went  along  the  lane.  When  we  were  come  to 
Good  King  Edward  I  and  lovely  Queen  Eleanor,  we 
made  stops.  I  did  tell  them  of  the  sickness  of  the 
baby.  I  said  a  little  prayer  for  his  getting  well. 
And  I  did  hold  him  up  for  their  blessing.  Then  we 
went  on,  and  Brave  Horatius  came  a-following 
after.  When  we  were  come  to  the  ending  of  the 
lane,  I  said  another  little  prayer.  Then  we  went  on. 
When  we  were  come  near  unto  the  altar  of  Good 


168  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

King  Edward  I,  I  said  another  little  prayer.  Then 
we  went  on.  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  was  in 
the  woods,  and  she  went  with  us.  She  mostly  does 
so.  And  we  went  on. 

By-and-by  my  arms  was  getting  tired.  Solomon 
Grundy,  now  that  he  is  older  grown,  does  get  a  little 
heavy  when  I  carry  him  quite  a  long  ways.  When 
I  was  come  to  the  far  end  of  the  near  woods,  I  met 
the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to 
mice.  He  smiled  the  gentle  smile  he  always  does 
smile,  and  he  took  Solomon  Grundy  into  his  arms. 
I  have  thinks  he  did  see  the  tiredness  that  was  in 
my  arms.  When  he  sat  down  on  a  log  with  the  dear 
pig,  I  said  I  had  fears  Solomon  Grundy  was  sick. 
He  said  he  did  too.  But  he  smoothed  my  curls  back 
and  he  said,  "Don't  you  worry;  he  will  get  well." 
Hearing  him  say  that  made  me  have  better  feels. 

Men  are  such  a  comfort  —  men  that  wear  gray 
neckties  and  are  kind  to  mice.  One  I  know.  He 
looks  kind  looks  upon  the  forest  and  he  does  love 
the  grand  fir  trees  that  do  grow  there.  I  have  seen 
him  stretch  out  his  arms  to  them  just  like  I  do  do  in 
the  cathedral.  He  does  have  kindness  for  the  little 
folks  that  do  live  about  the  grand  trees.  His  ways 
are  ways  of  gentleness.  All  my  friends  have  likes 
for  him,  and  so  had  Solomon  Grundy.  To-day  he 
said  he  would  take  Solomon  Grundy  back  to  camp 
by  the  mill  to  his  bunk-house.  A  warming  he  did 
need,  so  he  said,  and  he  said  he  would  wrap  him  in 
his  blanket  and  take  care  of  him  until  morningtime 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  169 

was  come.  Then  he  did  go  the  way  that  goes  to 
the  far  woods  and  I  did  go  the  way  that  does  go  to 
the  cathedral.  I  so  went  to  have  a  little  thank 
service  for  the  getting  well  of  Solomon  Grundy.  I 
do  have  knowings  he  will  be  well  when  morning- 
time  is  come.  With  me  to  the  cathedral  did  go 
Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  and  Brave  Horatius. 

This  morning  before  breakfast  I  did  go  to  the 
cathedral  to  say  thanks  for  the  goodness  of  one 
William  Wordsworth,  for  this  is  the  day  of  his 
borning  in  1770.  With  me  did  go  Thomas  Chatter- 
ton  Jupiter  Zeus.  And  Brave  Horatius  came  a-fol- 
lowing  after. 

After  the  morning's  work  was  done,  I  took  my 
little  basket  most  full  of  christening  robes  to  the 
pen-place  near  the  hen-house  where  is  Minerva  and 
her  fourteen  baby  chickens.  One  baby  chicken 
did  n't  hatch.  I  had  most  enough  christening  robes 
ready  on  yesterday  afternoon  but  one.  When  I  did 
go  to  sing  her  baby  to  sleeps,  Elsie  did  help  me  to 
fix  that  one  while  I  did  carry  in  some  wood  for  her. 
She  put  a  little  ruffle  of  lace  on  it  and  a  little  blue 
bow  of  ribbon.  It  looked  very  nice.  I  did  have 
thinks  how  nice  they  would  look  if  all  of  the  chris 
tening  robes  for  the  baby  chickens  of  Minerva 
did  have  little  bows  of  ribbon  on  them. 

Elsie  had  asks  what  was  my  thoughts  about, 
and  I  did  tell  her.  And  she  did  say  she  had  thinks 
that  way  too.  And  she  did  make  a  go  to  her  work- 


170  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

basket  that  was  under  the  shelf  where  does  set  the 
bottle  of  vaseline  that  her  young  husband  does 
smooth  back  his  pumpadoor  with.  That  vaseline 
jar  is  most  empty  again.  When  Elsie  did  find  some 
little  ribbons  in  her  work-basket,  she  did  go  and 
raise  up  the  trunk-lid  and  she  did  find  some  more 
little  ribbons  in  the  tray  of  the  trunk.  She  tied 
them  all  into  little  bows.  And  some  were  pink  and 
some  were  lavande  and  some  were  blue  and  some 
were  rose.  There  was  enough  for  every  baby 
chicken  to  have  one  on  his  christening  robe.  And 
I  did  sew  them  all  on  at  night-time  on  yester 
day  when  the  mamma  did  put  me  under  the  bed. 
Light  enough  came  from  the  lamp  on  the  kitchen 
table  so  I  could  have  sees  to  sew  them  all  on. 

When  we  was  come  near  unto  the  cathedral,  I 
made  a  stop  to  put  on  their  christening-robes. 
Nicolas  Boileau  and  Jean  Moliere  did  have  lavande 
ribbon  bows  on  theirs.  They  waited  waits  in  a 
corner  of  the  basket  while  I  did  put  on  the  others. 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  had  a  little  pink  bow  on  his.  He 
would  not  keep  still  while  I  was  getting  him  into 
his  robes.  He  peeped  three  times.  But  Sir  Francis 
Bacon  was  more  fidgety  than  he  was.  It  took  quite 
a  time  to  get  his  christening  robe  on.  Ben  Jonson 
did  wear  the  christening  robe  with  the  ruffle  of  lace 
around  it,  and  before  I  did  get  him  put  back  in  the 
basket  there,  he  did  catch  his  toe  in  that  ruffle  of 
lace.  Then  he  peeped.  I  took  his  toe  out  of  the 
ruffle,  and  put  a  christening  robe  with  a  rose  ribbon 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  171 

bow  on  it  on  Francis  Beaumont  and  one  like  it  on 
John  Fletcher,  because  their  names  was  together  in 
the  book  Angel  Mother  did  write  in. 

After  I  did  get  little  brown  Oliver  Goldsmith  and 
all  the  rest  of  the  children  of  Minerva  into  their 
christening  robes,  then  I  did  take  out  of  my  pocket 
her  little  white  cap  with  the  ruffles  on  it  like  the 
ruffles  on  the  morning-cap  of  Jenny  Strong.  I  tied 
it  under  Minerva's  bill.  She  was  a  sweet  picture  in 
it  coming  down  the  cathedral  aisle  by  my  side. 
Minerva  is  a  plump  hen  of  gentle  ways.  It  is  not 
often  she  does  talk,  but  she  did  chuckle  all  of  the 
time  while  her  baby  chickens  was  getting  chris 
tened.  Brave  Horatius  stood  by  the  altar  and  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium  did  perch  upon  his  back. 
Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  did  sit  on  a  log  close  by. 
And  Mathilde  Plantagenet  watched  from  the  pas 
ture-bars.  Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thu- 
cydides  did  walk  by  my  side  when  we  went  goes  to 
have  asks  for  the  blessing  of  Saint  Louis  on  all 
Minerva's  baby  chickens  after  they  were  chris 
tened.  Then  I  didsing"HosannainExcelsis."  And 
Ben  Jonson  peeped  and  so  did  Francis  Beaumont 
and  Pius  VII.  He  was  wiggling  so  that  his  christen 
ing  robe  was  most  off  him.  I  put  it  on  again.  Then 
I  did  stop  to  straighten  up  Minerva's  cap  with  the 
ruffles  on  it.  It  had  had  a  slip-back.  Then  we  had 
more  prayers.  Afterward  we  all  did  have  goes  back 
to  the  chicken-yard  pen.  I  took  off  Minerva's  cap 
so  it  would  be  clean  for  cathedral  service  on  Sun- 


172  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

days.  Then  I  put  her  and  all  her  children  back  in 
their  pen,  after  they  did  have  their  christening 
robes  off . 

After  I  did  give  Minerva  some  good-bye  pats 
and  advkes  about  bringing  up  her  children,  then  I 
did  go  goes  to  the  house  of  Sadie  McKibben.  Me- 
nander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  did  walk 
by  my  side  and  Brave  Horatius  came  a-following 
after.  When  I  was  come  to  the  house  of  Sadie 
McKibben,  there  was  Dear  Love.  They  was  glad 
we  was  come,  and  they  had  likes  for  Minerva's 
little  cap  with  the  ruffles  around  it  like  the  morn 
ing-cap  of  Jenny  Strong.  Dear  Love  did  give 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  some  pats  on  his 
nice  white  paws. 

And  they  did  talk  on.  I  did  have  hears  of  them 
saying  of  the  pensee  girl  with  the  far-away  look  in 
her  eyes,  that  is  come  again  to  visit  her  aunt  of  the 
gray  calico  dress  with  the  black  bow  at  its  neck.  I 
was  glad  she  is  come  again.  I  whispered  to  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  about  my  glad  feels  in  his 
left  ear.  He  cuddled  up  more  close.  We  listened 
more  listens.  Dear  Love  too  did  say  to  Sadie  Mc 
Kibben  as  how  it  is  the  man  of  the  long  step  that 
whistles  most  all  of  the  time  has  great  love  for  the 
pensee  girl  with  the  far-away  look  in  her  eyes;  and 
how  it  is  he  is  afraid  to  speak  to  her  about  this 
great  love  he  has  for  her.  And  more  Dear  Love  did 
say  of  how  it  is  he  does  pick  bunches  of  flowers  in 
the  woods  for  her  and  then  he  does  lay  them  by  an 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  173 

old  log  because  he  has  too  shy  feels  to  take  them  on 
to  her. 

Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  did  stick  out 
his  right  front  foot.  I  gave  it  a  pat,  and  I  did  give 
him  some  throat  rubs, — that  he  had  likes  for, — and 
all  of  the  time  I  was  having  thinks.  I  looked  looks 
out  the  side  window  of  thehouseof  SadieMcKibben. 
A  white  cloud  was  sailing  in  the  sky.  A  little  wind 
was  in  the  woods.  It  was  calling,  "Petite  Fran- 
coise,  come,  petite  Francoise."  I  did  tell  Dear 
Love  and  Sadie  McKibben  there  was  needs  for  me 
to  hurry  away.  They  did  have  understanding,  and 
Sadie  McKibben  did  say  it  was  not  long  I  was  stay 
ing  to-day,  and  she  would  wait  waits  for  my  return 
coming  on  the  morrow.  Dear  Love  did  tell  me  of  the 
pieces  she  did  find  in  the  top  of  her  trunk  that  were 
waiting  waits  to  be  made  into  christening  robes  for 
little  folks  that  now  do  have  their  borning-time.  I 
was  glad,  for  there  is  needs  of  more. 

After  I  did  say  good-bye,  I  went  goes  on  to  the 
woods.  I  did  not  follow  the  trail  that  does  go  to  the 
moss-box  where  I  do  leave  letters  on  leaves  for  the 
fairies.  The  wind  was  calling.  I  followed  after  it. 
It  was  not  adown  the  path  that  does  lead  to  the 
nursery.  It  was  calling  over  logs  in  the  way  that 
does  lead  to  where  is  that  old  log  with  the  bunches 
of  flowers  by  it  and  under  its  edges.  They  was  the 
flowers  that  the  man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles 
most  all  of  the  time  did  gather  for  the  pensee  girl 
with  the  far-away  look  in  her  eyes.  Some  of  the 


174  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

bunches  of  flowers  was  all  faded.  It  is  days  a  long 
time  since  he  did  put  them  there,  and  it  is  only  a 
little  time  since  he  did  put  the  last  ones  there. 

I  set  down  on  the  moss  my  basket  that  I  did 
carry  Minerva's  baby  chickens  to  christening  in. 
Then  I  made  begins.  First  I  put  some  moss  in  the 
basket,  then  I  did  put  in  some  of  the  bunches  of 
flowers.  I  put  in  the  most  faded  ones  because  they 
had  been  waiting  waits  the  longest.  Then  we  all  did 
go  in  a  hurry  to  the  house  of  her  aunt  of  the  gray 
calico  dress  with  the  black  bow  at  its  neck. 

The  aunt  was  not  there,  and  we  were  glad;  but 
the  pensee  girl  with  the  far-away  look  in  her  eyes 
was  there.  She  came  to  the  door  when  we  did  tap 
upon  its  handle.  I  did  tell  her  all  in  one  breath 
that  we  was  making  begins  to  bring  the  flowers 
that  the  man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles  most  all 
of  the  time  did  gather  for  her  on  many  days.  We 
gave  her  explanations  how  it  was  too  shy  feels  he 
had  to  bring  them  to  her  himself,  so  he  did  lay 
them  by  the  old  log.  I  told  her  as  how  it  was  we 
did  bring  the  most  faded  ones  first  because  they 
was  waiting  waits  the  longest;  and  she  did  take 
them  all  up  in  her  arms.  And  I  told  her  my  dog's 
name  was  Brave  Horatius  and  he  was  a  fine  dog, 
and  that  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  was  a 
most  lovely  wood-rat,  and  I  held  out  his  white 
paw  for  her  to  have  feels  of;  but  he  did  pull  it  back 
and  cuddle  his  nose  up  close  to  my  curls.  I  told  her 
how  it  was  he  was  shy,  too,  and  when  he  had  knows 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  175 

of  her  better  he  would  let  her  pat  his  nice  white 
paws. 

Then  I  did  take  my  basket  and  go  goes  in  a  hurry 
back  to  get  the  flowers.  I  did  carry  the  next  most 
old  ones  to  her.  And  she  was  glad  for  them.  She 
was  waiting  waits  for  me  on  the  steps  of  the  house 
of  her  aunt  of  the  gray  calico  dress  with  the  black 
bow  at  its  neck.  She  was  ready  to  go  back  with  us 
to  the  log  where  the  flowers  was;  and  there  was 
joy-lights  in  her  eyes.  While  we  did  go  along,  I 
did  tell  her  more  about  the  little  animal  and  bird 
folks  that  do  live  in  the  woods  and  I  did  tell  her 
about  the  great  love  the  man  of  the  long  step  that 
whistles  most  all  of  the  time  does  have  for  her. 

Quietness  was  upon  her,  and  we  did  walk  on  in 
a  slow  way.  A  beetle  went  across  the  path  and  a 
salal  bush  did  nod  itself  to  us.  The  wind  made 
little  soft  whispers,  and  by-and-by  we  was  come 
to  the  log.  She  did  kneel  down  by  it,  and  she  looked 
looks  for  a  long  time  at  all  the  bunches  of  flowers. 
And  I  did  say  a  little  prayer  and  Thomas  Chat- 
terton  Jupiter  Zeus  did  squeak  a  little  squeak.  I 
made  counts  of  the  bunches  of  flowers,  and  they 
were  thirty-and-three.  I  saw  a  chipmunk,  and  I 
followed  him  after  to  see  how  many  stripes  he  did 
have  on  his  back  and  where  was  his  home;  and  on 
the  way  I  saw  other  birds  and  I  followed  them  after 
on  tiptoes  to  have  sees  where  they  were  having  goes 
to.  And  in  the  bushes  there  was  a  little  nest  with 
four  eggs  in  it  with  speckles  on  them.  I  did  have 


176  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

thinks  there  was  needs  for  me  to  pick  out  names  for 
the  little  birds  that  will  hatch  out  of  those  eggs. 
This  is  a  very  busy  world  to  live  in.  There  is  much 
needs  for  picking  out  names  for  things. 

I  am  very  happy.  I  have  been  to  the  cathedral 
to  pray  again  that  the  angels  will  bring  a  baby  to 
Dear  Love  soon. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

How  Opal  and  Brave  Horatius  Go  on  Explores  and  Visit  the 
Hospital.  —  How  the  Mamma  Dyes  Clothes  and  Opal  Dyes 
Clementine. 

MY  legs  do  feel  some  tired  this  eventime.  I've 
been  most  everywhere  to-day.  I  so  have  been  going 
to  tell  the  plant-folks  and  the  flower-folks  and  the 
birds  about  this  day  being  the  going-away  day  of 
one  William  Shakespeare  in  1616.  Before  yet 
breakfast-time  was  come,  I  did  go  to  the  cathedral 
to  say  prayers  of  thanks  for  all  the  writings  he  did 
write.  With  me  did  go  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium  and  Thomas  Chatterton  Ju 
piter  Zeus  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil. 

When  we  were  come  again  to  the  house,  they  did 
wait  waits  while  I  did  go  to  do  the  morning  works. 
After  the  morning  works  were  done,  I  did  put 
pieces  of  bread  and  butter  in  papers  in  my  pockets 
for  all  of  us.  I  put  some  milk  in  the  bottle  for 
Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides.  He 
was  waiting  waits  for  me  by  the  pasture-bars.  He 
is  a  most  woolly  lamb.  He  was  glad  for  his  break 
fast  and  he  was  glad  to  have  knows  about  this  day. 
While  I  was  telling  them  all  there  what  day  this  is, 
Plutarch  Demosthenes  made  a  little  jump  onto  a 
little  stump.  He  looked  a  look  about  and  made 
a  jump-off.  Sophocles  Diogenes  came  a-following 


178  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

after.  They  both  did  make  some  more  jumps. 
Their  ways  are  ways  of  playfulness.  They  are  dear 
lambs. 

While  I  was  telling  them  all,  Menander  Euripides 
Theocritus  Thucydides  did  in  some  way  get  the 
nipple  off  his  bottle,  and  the  rest  of  the  milk  did 
spill  itself  out  the  bottle.  I  hid  the  bottle  away  by  a 
rock.  Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides 
did  follow  me  after.  He  does  follow  me  many 
wheres  I  do  go  to.  We  went  all  on.  We  saw  fleurs 
and  I  did  stop  moments  to  have  talks  with  them. 
I  looked  for  other  fleurs  that  I  had  longs  to  see. 
Everywhere  that  we  did  go  I  did  look  looks  for 
teverin  and  yellow  eclaire  and  pink  mahonille  and 
mauve  and  morgeline.  When  Brave  Horatius  had 
askings  in  his  eyes  for  what  I  was  looking,  I  did 
give  to  him  explanations.  He  looked  looks  back  at 
me  from  his  gentle  eyes.  In  his  looks  he  did  say, 
they  are  not  hereabout.  We  went  on.  We  went  to 
foret  d'Ermenonville  and  foret  de  Chantilly.  We 
went  adown  Lounette  to  where  it  flows  into  Non- 
ette  —  and  we  went  on.  Everywhere  there  were 
little  whisperings  of  earth-voices.  They  all  did  say 
of  the  writes  of  William  Shakespeare.  And  there 
were  more  talkings.  I  lay  my  ear  close  to  the  earth 
where  the  grasses  grew  close  together.  I  did  listen. 
The  wind  made  ripples  on  the  grass  as  it  went  over. 
There  were  voices  from  out  the  earth.  And  the 
things  of  their  saying  were  the  things  of  gladness  of 
growing.  And  there  was  music.  And  in  the  music 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  179 

there  was  sky-twinkles  and  earth-tinkles.  That  was 
come  of  the  joy  of  living.  I  have  thinks  all  the 
grasses  growing  there  did  feel  glad  feels  from  the 
tips  of  their  green  arms  to  their  toe  roots  in  the 
ground. 

And  Brave  Horatius  and  the  rest  of  us  did  n't 
get  home  until  after  supper-time.  The  folks  was 
gone  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  I  made  a  hunt  for  some 
supper  for  Brave  Horatius.  I  found  some  and  I 
put  it  in  his  special  dish.  Then  I  came  again  into 
the  house  to  get  some  bread  and  milk.  There  was  a 
jar  of  blackberry  jam  on  the  cook-table.  It  had 
interest  looks.  Just  when  I  happened  to  be  having 
all  my  fingers  in  the  jar  of  blackberry-jam,  there 
was  rumblings  of  distress  come  from  the  back  yard. 
I  climbed  onto  the  flour  barrel  and  looked  a  look 
out  the  window.  There  near  unto  my  chum's 
special  supper-dish  sat  the  pet  crow  with  top- 
' heavy  appears.  There  was  reasons  for  his  forlorn 
looks,  for  Brave  Horatius  had  advanced  to  the  rear 
of  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and  pulled  out  his 
tail-feathers. 

I  have  had  no  case  like  this  before.  I  felt  dis 
turbs.  I  had  not  knowings  what  to  do  for  it.  I  had 
some  bandages  and  some  mentholatum  in  my 
pocket.  I  took  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  —  all  that 
was  left  of  him  with  his  tail-feathers  gone  —  and  I 
sat  down  on  the  steps.  First  I  took  some  mentho 
latum  and  put  it  on  a  piece  of  bandage.  I  put  the 
piece  of  bandage  onto  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium 


1 8o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

where  his  tail-feathers  did  come  out.  Then  I  did 
take  the  long  white  bandage  in  the  middle,  and  I 
did  wrap  it  about  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  from 
back  to  front  —  in  under  his  wings  and  twice  on 
top,  so  the  bandage  would  stay  in  place  on  the  end 
of  him  where  his  tail-feathers  came  out. 

Then  I  did  make  a  start  to  the  hospital.  I  did 
have  wonders  how  long  the  needs  would  be  for 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  to  be  there  before  his  tail 
would  grow  well  again.  I  only  did  have  going  a 
little  way  when  I  did  meet  with  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice.  He  looked  a 
look  at  me  and  he  looked  a  look  at  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium  in  my  arms.  Then  he  did  have  askings 
why  was  it  Lars  Porsena  was  in  bandages.  I  told 
him  explanations  all  about  it.  He  pondered  on  the 
matter.  Then  he  picked  me  and  Lars  Porsena  up 
and  set  us  down  on  a  stump.  He  told  me  there  was 
no  needs  for  me  to  have  wonders  about  how  long 
the  need  would  be  for  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  to 
be  in  the  hospital  with  bandages  on  him.  He  did 
talk  on  in  his  gentle  way  of  how  it  is  birds  that  do 
lose  their  tail-feathers  do  grow  them  on  again.  He 
so  said  and  I  did  have  understanding. 

Then  he  did  take  up  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  in 
his  arms.  And  he  unwrapped  him  from  front  to 
back  and  back  to  front.  When  the  bandage  was  all 
off  him,  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  did  give  himself 
a  stretch  and  his  wings  a  little  shake.  And  I  said  a 
little  prayer  for  his  getting  well  and  a  new  tail 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  181 

soon.   And  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and 
is  kind  to  mice  said  Amen.  Then  we  came  home. 

To-day  was  dyeing  day.  The  mamma  dyed.  She 
dyed  clothes  —  old  ones.  First  she  washed  them  in 
the  tub.  Then  she  put  them  in  the  boiler  on  the 
stove.  In  the  boiler  was  beautiful  blue  water.  I 
know  because  I  climbed  on  the  stove-hearth  and 
peeked  in.  The  mamma  did  n't  make  this  water 
blue  with  balls  like  she  does  the  rench  water  for 
the  clothes  on  wash-days.  She  made  this  water  blue 
with  stuff  out  of  an  envelope.  I  had  sees  of  her 
tear  its  corner  off,  and  the  blue  little  specks  came 
out  of  that  envelope  in  a  quick  way.  The  specks 
so  did  come  in  a  more  hurry  way  when  she  did 
give  the  envelope  some  shakes.  All  the  clothes 
the  mamma  did  carry  from  the  wash-tub  to  the 
boiler  —  all  those  clothes  was  blue  when  she  took 
them  out;  and  afterwards  the  blue  was  yet  with 
them  and  they  hung  upon  the  line.  I  see  them 
quiver  blue  quivers  when  the  wind  blows. 

After  she  did  hang  them  there  on  the  line,  the 
mamma  did  leave  the  boiler  of  dye-blue  water  on 
the  stove.  And  she  is  gone  goes  to  the  house  of  her 
mother  by  the  meeting  of  the  roads.  She  told  me 
to  watch  the  house  and  let  the  fire  go  out.  It  so  is 
gone  a  long  time  ago,  and  I  keep  watch.  The  blue 
water  in  the  boiler  has  cold  feels  now.  I  stood  upon 
the  stove  and  I  put  my  arm  way  down  in  it,  and  it 
was  coldness.  First  I  did  only  touch  touches  on  the 


1 82  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

water  with  my  finger.  It  was  warmness  then.  That 
was  just  when  the  mamma  did  go. 

She  is  hours  and  hours  gone  now.  I  have  been 
keeping  watches  of  the  house  like  she  did  say  for 
me  to  do  when  she  went  away.  And  in-between 
times  I  have  been  reading  reads  in  the  books  Angel 
Mother  and  Angel  Father  did  write  in.  I  have  been 
screwtineyesing  the  spell  of  words.  Now  I  am 
going  to  have  dyeing  day  like  the  mamma  did  have 
on  this  morning.  It  is  so  much  of  fun  to  lift  things 
up  and  down  in  blue  water.  On  wash-days  the 
mamma  has  me  to  do  it  much.  She  calls  it  rench- 
ing  the  clothes.  When  it's  blue  water  in  a  boiler, 
it's  dyeing  them. 

I  have  been  dyeing  like  the  mamma  dyed  this 
morning.  First  I  did  dye  the  mamma's  bag  of 
blueing  balls.  That  bag  was  getting  pale  looks. 
Next  I  did  dip  in  the  mamma's  clothes-pin  bag. 
It  was  brownness  before.  I  have  not  sure  feels  yet 
what  color  it  is  going  to  be  since  it  has  had  its 
dye.  I  took  all  the  clothes-pins  out  first.  Then  I  did 
give  them  all  a  dip.  They  did  bob  about  in  a  funny 
way.  I  made  whirls  in  the  dye-blue  water  with 
my  fingers,  so  the  clothes-pins  would  make  some 
more  bobs.  It  was  very  nice,  standing  there  on  top 
the  cook-stove  watching  the  bobs  they  made  in 
the  boiler. 

Then  I  made  a  start  to  dye  handles.  First  I 
dipped  in  the  butcher-knife  handle.  Then  I  did 
give  the  dipper-handle  a  dip.  I  had  carefuls  to 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  183 

make  it  go  only  half-way.  Then  I  did  give  the 
handle  of  the  potato-masher  a  dip.  And  I  gave  the 
hammer-handle  a  dip  in  the  dye-blue  water. 

Clementine  came  in  a  walk  up  step  on  the  back 
porch.  She  looked  a  look  in.  She  is  such  a  friendly 
Plymouth  Rock  hen.  She  walked  right  into  our 
house  and  came  in  a  hop  up  by  the  dye-blue  water. 
She  so  does  like  my  blue  calico  apron.  She  hops 
up  on  my  knee  when  I  sit  down  to  talk  to  the 
chickens  in  the  chicken  park.  I  had  thinks  being  as 
she  has  likes  for  my  blue  calico  apron  she  would 
have  likes  for  blue  feathers;  so  I  did  give  her  a 
gentle  dip  in  the  dye-blue  water  and  two  more. 
She  walked  right  out  our  front  door  without  even  a 
thank  chuckle.  I  never  had  knows  of  her  to  do  so 
before.  The  dye-blue  water  was  waiting  waits. 

Next  I  dipped  the  Plymouth  Rock  rooster  in. 
He  did  object  to  being  dyed  blue.  He  was  quite 
fidgety.  I  had  decides  not  to  coax  any  more  folks 
from  the  chicken  yard  to  get  dyed  blue  feathers. 
I  looked  looks  about  the  house  we  live  in.  I  had 
seeing  of  a  box  of  matches  the  mamma  did  leave  on 
a  chair  in  the  bedroom.  The  mamma  has  said  I 
must  n't  touch  a  box  of  matches  on  the  cupboard 
shelf.  And  I  don't.  But  she  did  n't  say  I  must  n't 
touch  them  when  she  leaves  them  on  a  chair.  So  I 
have  took  the  box  of  matches  and  it  has  had  its 
dip.  It  has  a  limp  feel.  I  have  put  it  on  the  back 
steps  to  get  its  form  again.  And  all  the  matches 
that  was  in  the  box  have  had  their  dips  in  the  dye- 


i84  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

blue  water.   I  have  laid  them  in  rows  on  the  grass 
to  have  a  dry. 

And  now  I  do  have  thinks  how  nice  it  will  be  on 
next  time  when  dyeing  day  is  come  if  the  mamma 
does  have  seeing  as  how  I  could  be  helps  —  being 
as  I  now  do  have  so  much  knowing  of  the  ways  of 
dyeing.  I  have  thinks  a  big  amount  of  helps  I  could 
be.  Now  while  the  things  I  have  dyed  do  dry,  I  am 
going  goes  to  the  cathedral  to  have  a  long  service 
there,  for  this  is  the  borning  day  of  Saint  Louis  in 
1215.  And  many  wheres  there  is  needs  for  me  to 
go  to  tell  the  plant-folk  all  about  this  being  the  day 
of  his  borning.  And  too  it  is  the  borning  day  of 
Oliver  Cromwell  in  1599,  and  the  borning  day  of 
Padre  Martini  in  1706,  and  it  is  the  going-away 
day  of  Torquato  Tasso  in  1595.  The  winds  sing  of 
these.  And  the  great  pine  tree  is  saying  a  poem 
about  this  day. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

How  the  Mamma's  Wish  Came  True,  and  how  Opal  was 
Spanked  for  it;  and  of  the  Likes  which  Aphrodite  Had  for  a 
Clean  Place  to  Live  in. 

IN  the  morning  of  to-day,  before  I  did  eat  my 
bowl  of  mush  and  milk  for  breakfast,  I  did  go  to 
the  cathedral  to  say  thank  prayers  for  the  good 
works  of  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  for  this  is  the  day  of 
his  going  away  in  1519.  When  after-breakfast 
works  was  done,  the  mamma  did  have  me  to  churn. 
While  I  did  make  the  handle  with  the  cross  sticks  on 
it  go  up  and  down  in  the  churn,  I  did  have  hearing 
of  the  little  glad  songs  all  the  fleurs  were  singing 
out  in  the  field.  When  the  butter  was  come,  the 
mamma  did  take  it  out  the  churn.  She  put  all 
the  little  yellow  lumps  in  a  wood  bowl.  Then  she 
gave  to  them  pats  and  more  pats.  When  she  got 
through  patting  the  butter  into  its  proper  form,  the 
mamma  did  throw  the  butter-paddle  over  on  the 
cook-table.  She  said  she  hoped  and  wished  that 
she  would  never  see  that  butter-paddle  again.  She 
won't.  After  I  heard  her  say  that,  I  floated  it  away 
in  the  creek.  It  made  a  nice  boat.  It  did  sail  along 
in  a  bobby  way.  I  took  Solomon  Grundy  with  me. 
I  just  let  him  dabble  his  toes.  When  he  is  an  older 
pig,  he  can  wade  right  out  into  the  creek  with  me. 
His  eyes  did  look  bright  to-day  while  I  was  telling 


1 86  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

him  what  we  was  going  to  do  when  he  got  to  be  a 
bigger  pig. 

When  I  was  come  back  to  the  house  we  live  in, 
the  mamma  did  spank  me.  Then  she  did  send  me 
to  get  that  butter-paddle  in  a  hurry.  It  was  making 
bobs  by  the  reeds  by  the  old  rail  fence  where  the 
singing  creek  goes  under  and  on.  I  brought  it  back 
to  her  and  then  she  did  take  and  spank  me  again. 
Now  I  have  wonders  about  things  —  the  mamma 
did  say  she  wished  she  would  never  see  it  again. 

After  I  did  mind  the  baby  and  sleeps  was  come 
upon  it,  then  I  did  walk  into  the  garden.  I  went 
there  to  find  out  how  much  things  had  grown  since 
last  time  I  was  there.  First  I  pulled  up  a  bean 
plant.  It  looked  a  little  more  big  —  the  two  peek- 
a-boo  leaves  did.  After  I  looked  close  looks  at  it,  I 
did  plant  it  again.  Then  I  pulled  up  a  radish.  It 
was  doing  nicely  and  I  ate  it.  I  forgot  to  give  it 
close  looks  before  I  put  it  in  my  mouth  to  see  how 
much  it  did  grow  since  that  last  time.  After  I 
swallowed  it,  I  pulled  up  another  radish  to  find  out. 
It  was  doing  well.  I  put  it  back  in  the  garden  again 
and  I  went  to  the  house  and  got  it  a  drink  of  butter 
milk.  I  carried  it  out  to  it  in  the  papa's  shaving- 
mug.  There  was  more  drink  than  one  radish  needs, 
so  I  did  give  four  onions  and  two  more  radishes  sips 
of  buttermilk.  And  I  did  give  to  the  papa's  shaving- 
mug  some  washes  in  the  brook,  and  I  put  it  back  in 
its  place  on  the  shelf  again.  Just  then  the  mamma 
had  comes  into  the  house.  And  there  was  more 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  187 

spanks.  The  back  part  of  me  does  feel  sore  feels.  I 
have  thinks  I  will  go  and  give  geology  lectures  to 
the  folks  in  the  nursery,  and  too  I  will  sing  them 
lullaby  songs  and  the  bird  and  fleur  chant  de  fete 
de  grandpere  of  niverolle  and  ortolan  and  verdier 
and  etourneau  and  nenufar  and  eclaire  and  ulmaire 
and  fraxinelle. 

I  so  have  gone  goes,  and  the  folks  in  the  nursery 
was  glad  for  food  and  songs.  And  afterwards  I 
went  more  on  into  the  woods.  There  was  little 
whispers  among  the  leaves.  And  there  was  a  song 
in  the  tall  fir  tree-tops.  And  a  pine  tree  was  saying 
a  poem.  I  listened  listens.  Then  I  went  goes  on. 
I  saw  a  man  coming.  He  did  take  long  steps.  When 
he  was  nearer  come,  I  had  seeing  it  was  the  man 
that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice.  I 
did  go  adown  the  path  in  a  more  quick  way.  He 
did  have  seeing  of  my  coming.  Then  I  did  hide 
behind  a  tree.  He  came  on.  When  he  was  near  the 
tree  he  did  say,  "  I  thought  I  saw  someone  coming. 
Guess  I  was  mistaken.  I  think  I'll  take  these 
splints  for  the  hospital  back  to  the  mill." 

When  I  did  hear  him  say  that,  I  ran  in  a  quick 
way  back  to  the  path.  He  did  n't  see  me.  He  was 
looking  long  looks  away.  Then  I  did  give  his  coat- 
sleeve  a  gentle  pull,  and  he  did  whistle,  and  he  did 
ask  me  if  there  was  needs  for  splints  at  the  hospital. 
And  I  told  him  all  in  one  breath  how  much  needs 
there  was.  He  had  me  to  tell  him  all  over  again 
about  the  little  chicken  that  did  have  its  leg  hurt. 


1 88  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

And  I  gave  him  explanations  how  it  was  Sir  Fran 
cis  Bacon  did  have  his  leg  hurt  in  a  real  bad  way, 
and  the  big  folks  was  going  to  kill  him,  but  they 
gave  him  to  me  for  my  very  own  because  he  was  n't 
any  good  any  more. 

And  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is 
kind  to  mice  did  have  understanding,  and  he  went 
goes  with  me  to  the  hospital  that  I  do  have  for  little 
hurt  folks,  at  Saint-Germain-en-Laye.  While  I  did 
hold  little  Sir  Francis  Bacon,  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  fix  the  splints 
on  his  hurt  leg  in  a  gentle  way.  Then  I  did  pray 
prayers  for  his  getting  well  soon.  Brave  Horatius 
did  bark  Amen  —  and  one  of  the  most  tall  pine 
trees  was  saying  a  poem. 

After  morning's  works  was  done  I  was  washing 
out  clothes  for  the  baby.  I  thought  what  a  nice 
christening  robe  one  of  the  baby's  dresses  would 
make  for  one  of  the  new  baby  pigs.  The  mamma  had 
not  thoughts  that  way.  When  the  dress  was  on  the 
line,  I  did  go  by  the  chicken-yard  to  have  sees  how 
the  children  of  Minerva  are  growing.  Pius  VII  is 
getting  some  tail-feathers.  He  comes  to  feed  from 
my  hand  every  day,  and  he  likes  to  go  to  school  in 
my  little  basket.  He  has  not  been  for  a  whole  week 
now,  because  the  last  time  I  took  him  he  peeped 
and  teacher  sent  us  home.  Next  day  I  took  Francis 
Beaumont  and  John  Fletcher,  and  they  was  quiet. 

Last  time  I  took  them  to  cathedral  service,  Ben 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  189 

Jonson  pecked  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  on  the  head.  I 
said  prayers  over  them  for  peace  between  them. 
Then  I  put  one  in  a  little  box  on  one  log  and  I  put 
the  other  one  in  a  little  box  on  the  other  log.  The 
boxes  was  alike.  To-day  I  had  sees  of  these  two 
drinking  out  of  the  water-pan  together.  Peace  was 
between  them.  She  is  a  nice  mother-hen  that  has 
got  all  her  children  growed  up.  And  little  Edmund 
Spenser  was  scratching  for  a  worm  near  his  little 
brown  brother  Oliver  Goldsmith.  And  all  Minerva's 
family  was  growing  well. 

I  felt  satisfaction  feels  about  it,  and  I  sat  down 
on  a  log  to  pick  out  names  for  the  twins  I  am  go 
ing  to  have  when  I  grow  up.  I  picked  out  a  goodly 
number  of  names,  but  I  could  not  have  decides 
which  ones.  I  had  thinks  I  would  wait  a  little  time, 
and  I  had  remembers  it  was  time  for  me  to  be 
making  another  portrait  of  Solomon  Grundy.  So 
I  went  around  by  the  pig-pen  to  get  Solomon 
Grundy.  I  said  comfort  words  to  Aphrodite.  I 
told  her  how  it  was  I  was  just  taking  Solomon 
Grundy  to  make  a  portrait  of  him,  and  as  how  I 
was  going  to  make  it  in  the  same  way  and  in  the 
same  place  as  I  did  make  her  portrait  quite  a  time 
ago.  She  grunted  a  short  grunt  and  then  a  long 
grunt.  Sometimes  it  is  difficult  to  understand  pig 
talk.  But  her  next  grunt  —  it  was  very  plain.  It 
was  just  an  invitation  to  make  Solomon  Grundy's 
portrait  there  by  her  side,  and  no  needs  of  taking 
him  out  of  the  pig-pen. 


190  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  told  her  yes,  I  would  make  his  portrait  right 
there  by  her,  and  I  did  bring  many  brown  bracken 
ferns  after  I  did  have  the  pig-pen  cleaned  out. 
Most  every  day  I  do  give  the  pig-pen  a  rake-out, 
and  bring  some  clean  dirt  from  the  garden.  I  have 
thinks  pigs  do  have  likes  for  clean  places  to  live  in. 
It  brings  more  inspirations  to  their  souls.  And,  too, 
every  day  Aphrodite  does  have  likes  for  her  feed 
ing-trough  to  be  scrubbed  clean  all  over.  And  I 
have  planted  ferns  and  fleurs  all  around  her  pig 
pen.  It  is  a  very  nice  place,  with  sweet  smells  of 
grass  and  fleurs.  And  Aphrodite  was  glad  for  the 
brushing  I  did  give  her  to-day. 

I've  got  a  brush  —  a  nice  new  brush  —  a  good 
new  brush.  It  is  for  to  brush  my  pig  friends.  They 
so  do  need  brushings.  This  new  brush  the  man 
that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did 
get  for  me  last  time  he  did  go  to  the  mill  town.  The 
pigs  do  like  the  feels  the  new  brush  does  make  upon 
their  backs.  The  clean  feels  it  does  give  to  them  are 
pleasant  to  their  souls. 

After  I  did  give  her  the  brushing,  I  did  get  moss 
and  cover  the  clean  feed-trough  with  it.  That 
made  a  nice  place  to  sit  and  draw  Solomon  Grundy's 
portrait  by  his  mother  there.  I  drew  him  lying  by 
her  side.  Then  I  had  him  to  stand  on  his  feet,  and 
I  drew  one  of  him  that  way.  I  had  it  almost  done. 
There  was  a  little  noise.  It  was  the  step  of  some 
one  going  by.  I  had  not  knows  who  it  was.  I  went 
on  drawing  Solomon  Grundy's  ears  and  his  curly 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  191 

tail.  Then  I  had  knows  what  it  was.  It  was  that 
chore  boy  come  to  feed  the  pigs  —  and  he  poured 
all  that  bucket  of  swill  on  top  the  moss  and  Solomon 
Grundy's  portrait  and  me. 

The  feels  I  did  feel  —  they  was  drippy  ones. 
And  I  did  have  decides  to  make  that  other  por 
trait  of  Solomon  Grundy  another  time.  I  said 
good-bye  to  Aphrodite.  Then  I  went  goes  in  a 
quick  way  to  the  singing  creek  where  the  willows 
grow,  to  get  the  swill-smells  off.  First  I  did  wade 
out  a  little  way.  Then  I  sat  down.  The  water  came 
in  a  nice  way  up  to  my  neck,  and  it  went  singing  on. 
I  gave  my  curls  wash-ofFs,  and  I  did  listen  to  the 
song  the  creek  was  singing  as  it  did  go  by.  It  was  a 
song  of  the  hills.  Being  up  to  my  neck  made  the 
water  sounds  very  near  to  my  ears.  I  had  likes  for 
that. 

By-and-by  I  did  have  feels  that  I  was  clean  again 
and  I  did  have  thinks  I  better  go  get  some  dry 
clothes  on,  because  sitting  there  in  the  singing 
creek  did  make  my  clothes  some  wet.  When  I  was 
come  to  the  house  we  live  in,  the  mamma  was  gone 
to  the  house  of  Elsie,  so  I  did  go  in.  First  I  did  give 
my  clothes  some  wring-outs  by  the  steps,  so  the 
water  would  not  have  drips  on  the  kitchen  floor,  for 
the  mamma  has  likes  to  keep  her  house  very  clean. 

When  I  did  have  dry  clothes  on  me,  I  did  go  to 
hang  the  wet  ones  on  bushes  in  the  woods  to  dry. 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  went  with  me. 
Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  rode  in  one  of  my  apron 


192  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

pockets  and  Felix  Mendelssohn  rode  in  the  other 
one.  And  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  did  have  rides 
in  my  sleeve.  We  was  all  very  glad.  As  we  went 
along,  I  had  seeings  the  strings  I  have  put  on  the 
bushes  for  the  birds  was  gone.  We  went  on  and 
on  some  more.  I  did  have  looks  about.  I  did  have 
seeing  of  little  wood-folks  going  their  ways.  I 
watched  their  little  moves  and  I  had  seeing  of  what 
color  they  was.  I  made  stops  to  tell  them  about  this 
being  the  borning  day  of  Linnaeus  in  1 707,  and  the 
going-away  day  of  Georges  Cuvier  in  1832. 

We  went  on.  All  things  was  glad.  The  winds  did 
sing.  The  leaves  did  sing.  The  grasses  talked  in 
whispers  all  along  the  way.  I  have  thinks  they 
were  saying,  "Petite  Frangoise,  1'ete  approche  — 
Pete  approche."  I  did  have  hearings  to  all  they 
were  so  saying,  as  I  did  go  along.  And  the  little 
birdlings  in  their  cradles  were  calling  for  more  to 
eat.  And  I  did  make  a  stop  to  watch  the  mother- 
birds  and  father-birds  in  their  comings  and  goings. 
Now  are  busy  times. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

Of  Many  Washings  and  a  Walk. 

TO-DAY  I  did  take  Mathilde  Plantagenet  to  visit 
the  girl  that  has  no  seeing.  I  did  tell  her  I  would  so 
bring  Mathilde  Plantagenet,  and  she  did  have  joy 
feels  when  she  did  have  thinks  about  Mathilde 
Plantagenet  coming  to  visit  her.  Before  we  did 
start,  I  did  give  Mathilde  Plantagenet  a  good  foot 
bath,  as  Sadie  McKibben  does  always  take  one 
before  she  goes  a-visiting.  Then  I  did  wash  the  neck 
and  ears  of  Mathilde  Plantagenet  in  a  careful  way. 
It  took  four  Castoria-bottles  full  of  water  to  do  so. 

I  have  had  a  big  problem.  That's  what  Sadie 
McKibben  says  when  she  has  had  a  difficulty  of 
managing.  My  big  problem  was  what  to  carry 
water  in  when  I  go  to  make  prepares  to  give  my 
pets  foot-baths  and  neck-and-ear  washes.  I  have 
tried  thimbles  to  use  for  wash-pans  when  I  do  wash 
the  hands  of  my  pets,  but  thimbles  hold  not  enough 
of  water.  Often  and  often  again  there  is  needs  to 
go  for  more  water  when  one  does  use  thimblefuls 
at  a  time.  Sometimes  now  I  do  use  a  mentholatum 
jar.  It  holds  more  water  than  does  a  thimble,  but 
mostly  now  I  do  carry  Castoria  bottles  full  of  water 
when  I  start  on  my  way  to  wash  the  neck  and  ears 
of  my  animal  friends.  Sadie  McKibben  has  gave 
me  advice  and  a  lard-bucket  to  carry  those  Cas 
toria  bottles  full  of  water  in. 


i94  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

After  I  so  did  have  Mathilde  Plantagenet  washed 
then  I  did  dry  her  neck  and  ears  with  the  soft  salt- 
sack  towel  that  Sadie  McKibben  has  gave  to  me. 
After  I  did  have  her  neck  and  ears  washed  and  her 
hair  rubbed  down  in  the  way  it  does  go,  I  did  give 
her  a  little  lump  of  salt.  She  liked  that.  Then  I  tied 
the  little  rope  around  her  neck  that  I  do  lead  her 
by,  and  we  made  starts  to  go  visit  the  girl  that  has 
no  seeing.  When  we  were  come  to  her  gate,  I  did 
open  it  and  Mathilde  Plantagenet  and  I  went  down 
the  path  to  her  door.  Mathilde  Plantagenet  went 
around  with  me  to  the  window  where  I  do  tap  taps 
so  she  will  have  knows  I  am  come. 

She  did  rub  the  nose  of  Mathilde  Plantagenet. 
And  she  was  so  glad  to  see  her.  She  straightway  did 
go  to  bring  her  a  salt-lump.  But  I  told  her  Mathilde 
Plantagenent  did  just  have  a  salt-lump  after  her 
foot-bath.  And  I  did  give  her  explainings  as  how 
I  thought  one  salt-lump  a  day  is  enough  for  Ma 
thilde  Plantagenet  while  she  is  yet  so  young.  When 
she  is  older  grown  she  may  have  two  salt-lumps  in 
one  day.  Then  the  girl  that  has  no  seeing  did  give 
me  the  salt-lump  for  her  to  have  to-morrow.  She 
has  thinks  like  my  thinks  that  there  is  music  in 
the  moos  of  Mathilde  Plantagenet.  And  she  had 
asks  how  was  the  dear  baby  of  Elsie's.  And  I  told 
her  as  how  I  thought  it  would  have  two  tooths  soon, 
and  she  said  that  would  be  interest.  I  had  thinks 
so  too.  I  told  her  the  mamma's  nice  baby  has  a 
lot  of  tooths.  It's  had  them  quite  a  time  long,  and 
so  has  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  195 

Then  we  all  did  go  for  a  walk.  With  my  right 
hand  I  did  lead  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  With 
my  left  hand  I  did  lead  Mathilde  Plantagenet.  And 
Brave  Horatius  came  a-following  after.  As  we  did 
go  along,  we  did  have  listens  to  the  voices  of  the 
trees  and  grass.  The  girl  that  has  no  seeing  is 
learning  to  have  hearing  of  what  the  grasses  say 
and  of  the  waters  of  the  brooks  that  tell  the  hill 
songs.  Too,  she  is  learning  to  see  things.  She  shuts 
her  eyes  when  I  shut  mine.  We  go  on  journeys 
together.  We  ride  in  a  cloud  —  in  a  fleecy  white 
one  that  does  sail  away  over  the  hills.  We  look 
down  on  beautiful  earth,  and  we  see  Nonette  and 
Iraouaddy  and  Launette  and  foret  d'Ermenonville 
and  Aunette  and  foret  de  Chantilly  and  Saint 
Firmin. 

To-day,  after  we  did  have  our  eyes  shut  for  quite 
a  time  long,  I  did  open  mine  just  a  little  bit  to  have 
seeing  how  big  that  bee  was  that  was  making  such 
a  buzz.  He  was  quite  a  big  bee  and  he  was  in  a 
hurry.  When  he  did  go  on,  the  girl  who  has  no  see 
ing  did  have  asks  when  was  I  going  to  bring  Menan- 
der  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  to  visit  her. 
She  said  she  had  thinks  he  must  be  a  bigger  lamb 
now  with  me  giving  him  his  bottle  of  milk  morning 
and  eventime.  I  said  he  was  growing  more  big 
—  a  little  bit.  He  is  a  very  dear  lamb.  Then  she 
had  askings  when  was  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  coming  to 
visit  her.  And  she  had  wants  to  know  when  was 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  coming  againA  I  did  have 


196  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

thinks  about  it  and  I  did  tell  her  we  would  all  come 
to  visit  her  on  the  fourth  day  from  the  day  that  is 
now.  And  I  did  sing  her  the  song  of  fleurs :  of  tante, 
of  myosotis,  aubepine,  romarin,  gentiane,  ulmaire, 
eglantier,  rosagine,  iris,  tulipe  and  eclaire.  And  we 
came  home,  and  before  we  were  yet  to  the  house  we 
live  in,  we  did  make  a  stop  at  the  cathedral  for 
prayers,  and  "Hosanna  in  excelsis." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

Why  it  Was  that  the  Girl  who  Has  no  Seeing  Was  not  at 
Home  when  Opal  Called. 

Now  is  the  fourth  day  come.  And  we  are  going 
goes  to  the  house  of  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  All 
the  morning  hours  there  was  works  to  do  to  help 
the  mamma.  Afternoon  is  now  come  and  we  go. 

We  did.  First  I  did  make  begins  to  get  us  all 
together.  Brave  Horatius  was  waiting  by  the  back 
steps.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  was  near  unto  him. 
Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  was  under  the  front 
doorstep.  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  was 
back  of  the  house  in  his  home  of  sticks  that  he  does 
have  likes  for.  I  did  help  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  to  build  that  home.  I  had  sees  in  the 
woods  of  how  other  wood-rats  do  have  their  houses 
builded  of  sticks  and  some  sticks  and  some  more 
sticks.  To-day,  when  I  did  squeak  calls  for  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  to  come  out  of  his  house, 
he  did  come  out,  and  he  did  crawl  up  on  my  shoulder 
and  cuddle  his  nose  up  close  to  my  curls. 

We  made  a  start.  We  went  by  the  nursery  to 
get  Nannerl  Mozart.  We  went  on.  Menander  Eu 
ripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  was  playing  close  by 
the  pasture-bars.  He  is  a  very  jumpy  lamb.  He 
did  jump  a  long  jump  to  meet  us  to-day,  and  his 
tail  did  wiggle  more  wiggles.  We  went  adown  the 


198  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

lane.  We  made  a  stop  to  get  Solomon  Grundy,  and 
his  little  sister  Anthonya  Mundy,  that  has  not  got 
as  much  curl  in  her  tail  as  Solomon  Grundy.  We 
went  out  along  the  road.  They  were  a  sweet  pic 
ture.  I  made  a  stop  to  look  at  them  all  —  some 
running  ahead  and  some  behind.  They  all  did  wear 
their  pink  ribbons  that  the  fairies  did  bring.  Solo 
mon  Grundy  and  Anthonya  Mundy  and  Menander 
Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  all  did  wear  di 
vides  of  the  ribbon  that  was  the  ribbon  that  dear 
William  Shakespeare  used  to  wear.  And  they  all 
did  have  joy  feels  as  they  had  knows  they  were 
going  on  a  visit  to  visit  the  girl  that  has  no  seeing. 
She  has  love  for  them.  And  we  did  go  in  a  hurry  on. 
I  did  feel  a  big  amount  of  satisfaction  that  I  have 
such  a  nice  family. 

Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  did  ride  most  of  the 
way  on  the  back  of  Brave  Horatius.  His  appears 
are  not  what  they  were  before  he  did  lose  his  tail- 
feathers.  I  am  praying  prayers  every  day  for  him 
to  get  a  new  tail  soon.  When  we  were  all  come  near 
to  the  house  of  the  girl  that  has  no  seeing,  we  did 
walk  right  up  to  the  door.  And  I  stepped  three 
steps  back  and  three  hops  over  and  three  steps  up 
to  the  door,  so  she  would  have  knows  we  was  come. 
We  had  knows  only  she  would  be  there  because 
this  day  is  the  going-to-town  day  of  her  people.  I 
stepped  more  steps.  Brave  Horatius  barked  more 
barks  for  her  coming.  And  Solomon  Grundy 
squealed  his  most  nice  baby-pig  squeal.  We  did 


THE    STORY  OF  OPAL  199 

listen  listens.  She  had  not  coming  to  the  door.  I 
sat  on  the  steps  to  wait  waits.  I  so  did  for  some 
time  long.  While  we  did  have  waits,  I  did  sing  to 
Brave  Horatius  and  Solomon  Grundy  and  all  of 
them  songs  of  Nonette  and  Iraouaddy  and  more 
songs  Angel  Father  did  teach  me  to  sing  of  birds  of 
oncle  what  did  have  going  away,  of  roitelet,  ortolan, 
bruant,  epervier,  rousserolle,  tourterelle,  farlouse, 
ramier,  aigle,  nonnette,  chardonneret,  orfraie,  ibis, 
rossignol,  loriot,  ortolan,  ibis,  sansonnet,  pinson,  hi- 
rondelle,  ibis,  lanier,  ibis,  pic,  pivoine,  epeiche,faisan, 
etourneau,  roitelet,  draine,  ibis,  nonnette,  aigle,  nive- 
rolle,  durbec,  aigle,  roitelet,  ibis,  etourneau,  draine, 
ortolan,  roitelet,  loriot,  emerillon,  aigle,  niverolle,  sar- 
celle.  All  my  pets  do  have  likes  for  those  songs. 
To-day  Brave  Horatius  did  bark  a  bark  when  I 
was  done  and  Solomon  Grundy  did  squeal  his  baby- 
pig  squeal  again.  I  had  wonders  why  she  did  not 
come. 

After  by-and-by  I  did  go  sit  on  the  gate-post  to 
wait  waits.  It  was  a  long  time.  A  man  on  a  horse 
went  by.  Another  man  went  by.  He  had  asks  what 
for  was  I  sitting  on  the  gate-post.  I  did  tell  him  I 
was  waiting  waits  for  the  coming  of  the  girl  that 
has  no  seeing.  He  did  look  away  off  to  the  hills. 
Then  he  started  to  say  something  but  he  swallowed 
it.  He  looked  off  to  the  hills  again.  Then  he  did 
say,  "  Child,  she  won't  come  back.  She  is  gone  to 
the  graveyard." 

I  did  smile  a  sorry  smile  upon  him  because  I  had 


200  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

knows  he  did  n't  know  what  he  was  talking  about 
when  he  did  say  she  won't  come  back.  It  is  not 
often  she  goes  anywhere,  and  when  she  does,  she 
always  does  come  back.  I  told  him  I  knew  she 
would  come  back.  I  waited  some  more  waits.  Then 
it  was  time  for  my  pets  to  be  going  back  because  it 
would  not  do  for  the  chore  boy  not  to  find  Solomon 
Grundy  and  Anthonya  Mundy  in  the  pig-pen.  I 
will  go  goes  again  to-morrow  to  see  the  girl  that  has 
no  seeing,  for  I  have  knows  she  will  come  again 
home  to-night  in  starlight-time. 

When  Solomon  Grundy  and  Anthonya  Mundy 
did  have  their  pink  ribbons  off  and  was  again  in 
the  pig-pen,  the  rest  of  us  did  have  going  to  the 
cathedral  for  songs  and  prayers.  I  did  pray  that 
the  girl  that  has  no  seeing  may  not  stub  her  toe 
and  fall  when  she  comes  home  to-night  by  starlight- 
time.  And  Brave  Horatius  did  bark  Amen. 

Early  on  this  morning  I  went  again  to  the  house 
of  the  girl  who  has  no  seeing.  There  were  little 
singings  everywhere  —  sky  and  hills  and  the  wil 
lows  were  whispering  little  whispers  by  Nonette.  I 
went  in  a  quick  way  down  along  the  lane  and  in 
along  the  fields,  until  I  was  come  near  unto  her 
house.  I  cuddled  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus 
more  close  in  my  arms,  and  I  tiptoed  on  the  grass. 
Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  did 
make  little  jumps  beside  me.  And  Brave  Horatius 
came  a-following  after. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  201 

I  made  a  stop  by  the  window  that  I  always  do 
make  stops  by  and  I  rapped  six  raps  on  the  window- 
pane.  Six  raps  means  "Come  on  out  —  we  are 
come."  I  had  no  hears  of  her  steps  a-coming  like 
they  always  do.  I  put  my  hands  above  my  eyes  so 
I  could  see  inside  the  window.  She  was  not  there. 
Nobody  was.  I  did  tap  six  more  raps.  She  did  not 
come. 

I  went  on  around  by  the  lilac  bush.  I  crawled  in 
under  it  to  wait  waits  for  her  coming.  Two  men 
were  talking  by  the  fence.  One  did  say,  "It  is 
better  so."  I  had  wonders  what  did  he  mean.  The 
other  man  did  say,  "A  pit  tea  it  was  she  could  n't 
have  had  a  little  sight  to  see  that  brush-fire  ahead." 
And  I  had  hears  of  the  other  one  say,  "Probably 
the  smell  of  the  smoke  caused  her  worry  about  the 
fire  coming  to  the  house,  and  probably  she  was 
trying  to  find  out  where  it  was  when  she  walked 
right  into  it."  And  the  other  man  did  have  asks  if 
she  was  con  chus  after.  And  the  other  one  did  say, 
"Yes." 

I  listened  more  listens  to  their  queer  talk.  I  had 
wonders  what  did  it  all  mean.  Another  man  did 
come  in  the  gate.  He  came  to  where  they  was.  He 
put  his  hand  on  a  fence-post.  There  was  a  green 
caterpillar  close  by  him  on  a  bush,  but  he  had  not 
seeing  of  it.  He  did  begin  to  talk.  First  thing  he 
said  was,  "When  Jim  went  by  here  last  even,  that 
child  was  sitting  on  the  gate-post.  She  was  waiting 
for  her  to  come  back."  He  said  more;  he  said, 


202  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

"Jim  told  her  she  was  gone  to  the  graveyard,  but 
she  said  she  knew  she  would  come  back." 

Why,  that  was  what  I  told  that  man.  It  all  did 
sound  queer.  I  heard  them  say  some  more.  Then 
I  had  understanding.  I  had  knows  then  it  was  the 
girl  that  has  no  seeing  they  was  having  talks  about, 
because  I  was  waiting  waits  for  her  on  yesterday 
when  the  man  did  tell  me  that.  I  felt  queerness  in 
my  throat  and  I  could  n't  see  either.  I  could  n't 
see  the  green  caterpillar  on  the  leaf  by  the  man  that 
said  it.  And  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  had 
looks  like  a  gray  cloud  in  my  arms. 

More  the  men  said.  They  talked  it  all  over  again. 
They  said  she  smelled  the  smoke  of  the  brush-fire, 
and  not  having  sees  of  it,  she  did  walk  right  into  it 
and  all  her  clothes  did  have  fire;  and  then  she  ran, 
and  her  running  did  make  the  fire  to  burn  her  more 
—  and  she  stubbed  her  toe  and  fell.  She  fell  in  a 
place  where  there  was  mud  and  water.  She  was 
rolling  in  it  when  they  found  her.  And  all  the  fire- 
pains  that  was  did  make  her  moan  moans  until 
hours  after,  when  she  died.  They  say  she  died.  And 
I  could  n't  see  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  or 
Brave  Horatius  or  anything  then. 

When  after  a  while  I  did  come  again  the  way 
that  goes  to  the  house  we  live  in,  I  did  have  sees  of 
the  little  fleurs  along  the  way  that  she  so  did  love. 
I  have  thinks  they  were  having  longings  for  her 
presence.  And  I  so  was  too.  But  I  do  have  thinks 
her  soul  will  come  again  to  the  woods.  And  she 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  203 

will  have  sees  of  the  blooming  of  the  fleurs  in  the 
field  she  has  loves  for.  I  go  now  to  write  a  message 
on  a  leaf  for  her  like  I  do  to  Angel  Father  and  Angel 
Mother.  I  will  put  one  by  the  ferns,  and  I  will  tie 
one  to  a  branch  of  the  singing  fir  tree.  And  I  will 
pray  that  the  angels  may  find  them  when  they  come 
a-walking  in  the  woods.  Then  they  will  carry  them 
up  to  her  in  heaven  there. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

Of  a  Cathedral  Service  in  the  Pig-Pen.  —  How  the  World 
Looks  from  a  Man's  Shoulder. 

IN  the  morning  of  to-day,  being  as  I  could  not 
get  the  fence  down  about  the  pig-pen  so  Aphrodite 
could  get  out  to  go  to  service  in  the  cathedral,  I  did 
have  decides  to  have  cathedral  service  in  the  pig 
pen. 

I  brought  large  pieces  of  moss  and  lovely  ferns. 
I  got  a  wood-box  so  Brave  Horatius  could  get  in. 
After  he  was  in  the  pig-pen,  I  did  use  the  box  for 
an  altar.  I  lay  moss  upon  it  and  ferns  about  it. 
While  I  was  fixing  it  Lars  Porsena  did  perch  on  my 
shoulder  and  he  stayed  there  for  service.  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  nestled  by  my  side.  Solo 
mon  Grundy  and  Anthonya  Mundy,  who  has  n't  as 
much  curl  in  her  tail  as  Solomon  Grundy  —  these 
lay  by  their  mother  Aphrodite  and  me  and  all  the 
other  little  pigs.  I  sat  on  a  board  and  Clementine 
did  perch  on  the  edge  of  the  feeding-trough.  In  its 
middle  was  her  sister  hen  Andromeda.  Felix  Men 
delssohn  did  snuggle  up  in  my  right  apron  pocket. 
And  in  the  left  apron  pocket  was  that  lovely  toad, 
Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil. 

After  some  long  time,  when  we  all  did  get  settled 
down  to  quietness,  I  did  start  service.  It  took  a 
long  time  to  get  quietness  because  the  dear  folks 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  205 

were  n't  used  to  having  cathedral  service  in  the 
pig-pen.  After  the  third  hymn  I  did  preach  the 
morning  sermon.  I  did  choose  for  my  text:  "I  will 
lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  hills."  I  had  to  peek 
through  the  pig-pen  fence  to  do  it,  for  it  did  have 
more  tallness  than  I  did  have.  I  lifted  most  all  the 
congregation  up  to  have  a  peek.  I  did  lift  them  one 
at  a  time.  And  so  they  saw  and  lifted  up  their  eyes 
unto  the  hills,  but  most  of  them  did  n't.  They 
looked  in  different  ways.  Some  saw  God's  good 
ness  in  the  grass  and  some  did  see  it  in  the  trees, 
and  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  did  not  have 
seeing  for  more  than  for  the  piece  of  cheese  I  did 
have  hid  in  my  sleeve  for  him.  He  gave  his  cheese 
squeak.  I  gave  him  a  nibble.  Then  we  had  prayers. 

Rain  is  come  some  more.  It  came  all  night.  And 
earth  is  damp  again  and  things  grow  more  in  the 
garden.  Some  things  grow  very  fast.  Weeds  so  do. 
When  the  rain  did  stop  having  come-downs  on  this 
morning,  then  the  mamma  did  have  me  to  hoe  in 
between  the  rows  of  things  that  do  grow  in  the 
garden.  As  I  did  go  along,  I  did  have  talks  with 
these  folks  that  grow  in  the  garden  there.  I  did  tell 
them  little  poems.  And  I  did  sing  to  them  little 
songs.  As  I  did  go  along  between  the  rows,  Brave 
Horatius  did  follow  after.  I  had  thinks  about  the 
things  growing  there.  I  wonder  if  I  would  get 
roots  like  the  plants  in  the  garden,  if  I  planted  my 
feet  some  inches  in  the  soil  and  did  keep  still  quite 


206  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

a  time  long.  I  have  thinks  I  will  try  it  some  day 
and  find  out. 

As  I  did  go  on,  I  did  have  sees  there  were  earth 
worms  on  the  window-panes  over  the  young  cab 
bage-plants.  The  grown-ups  say  the  earthworms 
rained  down.  They  are  mistaken.  Those  earth 
worms  crawled  up.  I  Ve  watched  them  do  it.  They 
were  about  in  many  places.  I  have  been  learning 
things  about  earthworms.  I  think  being  an  earth 
worm  must  be  an  interesting  life.  I  wonder  how  it 
feels  to  stretch  out  long  and  then  get  short  again. 
I  went  goes  on,  to  pull  weeds  by  the  bean-folks.  I 
went  back  some  steps  to  look  looks  at  them.  Those 
bean-folks  in  the  garden  are  such  climbers.  Their 
thoughts  reach  up  toward  the  sky.  And  they  climb 
up  on  the  poles  we  put  in  the  garden  there. 

By-and-by  I  saw  another  earthworm.  He  was 
alone.  I  did  have  sees  of  his  movements.  I  always 
do  see  more  earthworms  after  rain.  This  one  was 
making  himself  very  long.  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil,  too,  did  have  seeing  of  that  earthworm.  I 
made  a  stop  to  see  what  he  was  going  to  do  about 
it.  I  did  see.  He  did  walk  walks  around  that  earth 
worm.  Then  he  did  take  it  in  a  quick  way.  It  was 
a  very  big  earthworm,  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  did  have  needs  to  use  his  hands  to  stuff  it 
down  his  throat.  The  earthworm  made  wiggles, 
and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  gave  it  pushes  down 
his  throat. 

In  afternoon-time,  when  other  works  was  done, 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  207 

I  did  take  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and 
Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil 
with  me,  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  did  have 
rides  in  my  sleeve.  We  went  goes  to  the  barn.  I 
made  a  stop  to  talk  with  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio 
Raphael.  Then  I  did  go  in  to  play  on  the  hay.  I 
had  hearing  of  sounds  in  the  stall  below.  I  slid  a 
slide  down  into  the  manger  of  that  stall.  There  was 
someone  I  have  never  had  sees  of  before.  He  had 
big  eyes  and  a  velvet  nose,  and  he  was  brownish. 
When  I  did  land  in  his  manger  there,  he  did  look 
afraid  looks.  But  I  just  sat  quiet  in  the  corner  of 
the  manger  and  reached  out  handfuls  of  hay  to  him. 
I  have  knows  he  is  that  new  saw  rel  horse  I  have 
heard  the  grandpa  at  the  ranch-house  say  he  was 
going  to  get.  And  now  he  is  got.  I  have  likes  for 
him.  I  told  him  a  poem  and  I  did  sing  him  a  song 
of  fleurs  de  tante,  of  myosotis  et  anemone  et  roma- 
rin  et  iris  et  eclaire.  He  did  have  likes  for  that 
song,  and  the  bunches  of  hay  I  did  hold  out  to  him. 
And  this  being  the  going-away  day  of  Savonarola 
in  1498, 1  have  give  this  new  saw  rel  horse  for  name 
Girolamo  Savonarola.  I  did  tell  him  his  name  while 
I  did  give  him  more  pats  on  his  velvet  nose.  I  have 
likes  for  him. 

On  yesterday  the  coffee-pot  tipped  over  on 
Harold.  He  had  pains  —  worse  than  when  the 
baby  has  colic.  Elsie  puts  oil  on  him.  When  she 
puts  the  oil  on  him,  some  of  his  cries  go  under  the 


2o8  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

floor  and  we  do  not  hear  them  any  more.  I  feel  I 
have  needs  of  that  oil  in  my  hospital.  Three  times 
on  this  morning  I  have  been  on  goes  to  the  house  of 
Elsie  to  have  asks  if  he  is  growing  well.  She  says 
his  feels  are  better  —  the  oil  does  make  them  so. 
And  I  yet  have  more  thinks  then  there  is  needs  of 
oil  like  that  oil  in  my  hospital. 

When  I  was  coming  back  from  the  house  of  Elsie 
I  did  look  looks  about  as  I  did  go  along.  I  saw  a 
piece  of  bark.  I  did  turn  it  over  with  care.  There 
were  ants.  I  made  a  set-down  to  watch  them.  Some 
ants  did  carry  bundles  with  queer  looks.  Big  Jud 
at  school  says  they  are  ant  eggs.  I  have  not  thinks 
so.  They  be  too  big  for  ant  eggs  —  and  I  have 
remembers  that  Angel  Father  did  call  ihemnymphes 
de  fourmis. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  house  we  live  in,  there 
was  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  walking  about  on  the 
clean  tablecloth  that  has  been  put  on  for  company. 
And  there  he  was  tracking  crow-tracks  in  jam  all 
over  it.  I  picked  him  up  and  the  mamma  picked 
me  up,  and  right  away  she  did  spank  me  for  his 
doing  it.  The  time  it  did  take  to  wash  that  table 
cloth  was  quite  a  time  long.  I  made  little  rubs  on 
it  where  was  the  jam-tracks  of  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium.  When  they  was  all  come  out,  and  it  had 
clean  looks  that  did  suit  the  feels  of  the  mamma, 
then  she  did  tell  us  to  get  out  of  her  way. 

We  did.  We  went  to  the  woods  and  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  went  with  us.  When  we 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  209 

were  come  to  the  great  fir  tree,  I  did  say  a  prayer. 
We  went  on.  A  little  way  we  went.  Then  I  made  a 
stop  to  print  a  message  on  a  leaf,  for  the  soul  of  the 
girl  that  has  no  seeing.  I  had  wants  to  tie  it  on  a 
limb  of  a  tree  that  I  could  not  reach  up  to,  and 
there  was  no  tree  fallen  against  it.  While  I  did 
stand  close  by  it,  the  man  that  wears  gray  neck 
ties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  come  that  way  by. 
When  he  saw  me  in  meditation  by  that  tree,  he  did 
ask  me  what  I  wanted.  I  told  him  I  did  have  needs 
of  being  up  in  that  tree.  He  did  set  me  on  his 
shoulder.  From  there  I  could  reach  the  tree-arm 
that  was  most  near  earth.  But  before  I  did  climb 
onto  the  limb  from  his  shoulder  I  did  take  long 
looks  about  in  three  straight  ways  and  four  corner 
ways. 

One  does  get  such  a  good  view  of  life  from  a  man's 
shoulder.  One  feels  so  much  more  tall.  I  saw  a 
mouse  run  under  a  log.  I  saw  a  mother-bird  come 
to  her  babies.  I  saw  a  toad  by  an  old  gray  rock.  I 
saw  a  caterpillar  on  a  bush  close  by.  I  saw  a  squir 
rel  on  a  tree  beyond  the  next  bush.  Then  I  did 
climb  up  into  the  tree,  and  I  tied  the  leaf  with  the 
message  on  it  out  far  on  a  limb  high  up,  so  the 
angels  would  have  sees  of  it  when  they  went  flying 
by  and  carry  it  up  to  her  in  heaven  there. 

Afterwards  I  did  go  to  the  house  of  Sadie  Mc- 
Kibben.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  went  goes  with  me.  Sadie 
McKibben  has  a  new  back-comb.  She  did  have  me 


210  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

put  it  in  her  hair  for  the  first  time  it  so  is  in.  It 
has  crinkles  on  its  back  and  it  does  hold  her  hair 
up  from  her  neck  in  a  nice  way.  Sometimes 
Sadie  McKibben  does  let  me  help  her  to  do  up  her 
hair.  I  have  satisfaction  feels  that  I  can  be  of  helps. 
I  do  roll  her  hair  in  a  roll  on  top  of  her  head.  It 
makes  loop  looks  where  some  hairs  want  not  to 
be  in  the  roll  on  top  of  her  head.  Then  I  do  put  the 
hairpins  in,  to  make  them  look  like  a  water-wheel 
that  the  chore  boy  does  build  in  the  brook.  But  all 
the  times  I  do  put  Sadie  McKibben's  hairpins  in  like 
a  water-wheel,  her  hair,  it  does  not  stay  up  long. 
Then  she  does  smile  a  smile  and  give  her  hair  a 
quick  roll.  She  sticks  the  hairpins  in  tight.  Her 
hair,  it  does  stay  up.  She  so  did  to-day.  And  when 
we  came  away  she  did  give  me  a  kiss  on  both  my 
cheeks  and  one  on  my  nose.  I  have  glad  feels  that 
she  does  remember  about  the  nose. 

After  I  was  come  home  I  did  bring  the  wood  in 
and  set  the  table.  Then  I  made  a  start  to  go  to  the 
ranch-house  to  get  the  milk.  On  the  way  along  I 
heard  a  little  lamb  bleating.  It  was  crying  for  its 
mother.  I  went  to  look  for  it.  I  left  the  path.  I 
went  to  the  pasture  up  by  the  woods.  When  I  got 
there  the  little  lamb  seemed  to  be  away  back  in 
the  woods.  I  set  the  milk-pail  down  and  ran.  I  ran 
quick.  There  were  long  gray  shadows  in  the  woods. 
I  felt  their  soft  fingers  touch  my  cheeks.  I  ran  on. 
The  little  lamb  had  stopped  crying.  I  heard  it  bleat 
no  more.  Where  last  time  it  did  cry,  there  was  only 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  211 

the  husband  of  Sadie  McKibben  sitting  on  a  log.  I 
have  thinks  the  wee  lamb  did  find  its  mother.  So  I 
came  back  again.  And  the  time  was  not  long  until 
I  did  have  the  milk  brought  to  the  house  we  live  in. 
Afterwards  in  gray-light  time  I  did  go  to  the 
cathedral.  And  with  me  went  Brave  Horatius  and 
most  all  the  others.  We  did  have  service  and  I  did 
sing  and  say  thank  prayers  for  the  goodness  of 
Gregoire  VII.  It  was  on  this  day  in  1085  —  it  was 
then  he  did  have  going  away.  And  this  eventime 
there  was  a  song  in  the  tree-tops  at  the  cathedral. 
I  have  thinks  it  was  a  song  of  his  goodness. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

How  Opal  Piped  with  Reeds,  and  what  a  Good  Time  Dear  Love 
Gave  Thomas  Chatter  ton  Jupiter  Zeus. 

VERY  early  in  the  morning  of  to-day  I  did  get 
out  of  my  bed  and  I  did  get  dressed  in  a  quick  way. 
Then  I  climbed  out  the  window  of  the  house  we 
live  in.  The  sun  was  up  and  the  birds  were  singing. 
I  went  my  way.  As  I  did  go,  I  did  have  hearing  of 
many  voices.  They  were  the  voices  of  earth  glad 
for  the  spring.  They  did  say  what  they  had  to  say 
in  the  growing  grass  and  in  the  leaves  growing  out 
from  tips  of  branches.  The  birds  did  have  knowing, 
and  sang  what  the  grasses  and  leaves  did  say  of  the 
gladness  of  living.  I,  too,  did  feel  glad  feels  from 
my  toes  to  my  curls. 

I  went  down  by  the  swamp;  I  went  there  to  get 
reeds.  There  I  saw  a  black  bird  with  red  upon  his 
wings.  He  was  going  in  among  the  rushes.  I  made 
a  stop  to  watch  him.  I  have  thinks  to-morrow  I 
must  be  going  in  among  the  rushes  where  he  did  go. 
I  shall  pull  off  my  shoes  and  stockings  first,  for 
mud  is  there  and  there  is  water.  I  like  to  go  in 
among  the  rushes  where  the  black  birds  with  red 
upon  their  wings  do  go.  I  like  to  touch  finger-tips 
with  the  rushes.  I  like  to  listen  to  the  voices  that 
whisper  in  the  swamp,  and  I  do  so  like  to  feel  the 
mud  ooze  up  between  my  toes.  Mud  has  so  much  of 
interest  in  it  —  slippery  feels  and  sometimes  little 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  213 

seeds  that  some  day  will  grow  into  plant-folk  if 
they  do  get  the  right  chance.  And  some  were  so 
growing  this  morning.  And  more  were  making 
begins.  I  did  have  seeing  of  them  while  I  was  look 
ing  looks  about  for  reeds. 

With  the  reeds  I  did  find  there  I  did  go  a-piping. 
I  went  adown  the  creek  and  out  across  the  field 
and  in  along  the  lane.  Every  stump  I  did  come  to 
I  did  climb  upon.  By-and-by  I  was  come  near 
unto  the  house  we  live  in.  I  thought  it  would  be 
nice  to  go  adown  the  path  and  pipe  a  forest  song  to 
the  mamma  of  the  gladness  of  the  spring.  When  the 
mamma  met  me  piping  in  the  path,  she  did  turn 
me  about  to  the  way  that  does  lead  to  the  house  we 
live  in.  She  so  did  with  switches.  She  made  me  to 
stop  piping  the  song  of  the  forest,  but  it  did  n't  go 
out  of  my  heart. 

When  we  was  come  into  the  house,  the  mamma 
did  tell  me  works  to  do,  and  then  she  went  with  the 
little  girl  and  the  baby  and  some  lace  she  was  mak 
ing  for  a  skirt  for  the  baby,  all  to  the  house  of  Elsie. 
I  did  make  begins  on  the  works.  I  like  to  be  helps 
to  the  mamma.  I  like  to  sing  while  I  have  works  to 
do.  It  does  so  help.  After  I  did  scrub  the  steps 
and  empty  the  ashes  and  fill  the  wood-box  and 
give  the  baby's  clothes  some  washes,  —  all  as  the 
mamma  did  say  for  me  to  do,  —  then  I  made  pre 
pares  to  take  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  to 
visit  Dear  Love.  She  has  kind  thoughts  of  him,  and 
it  is  four  whole  days  since  she  has  seen  him. 


214  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

First  I  brought  out  his  nice  pink  ribbon  that  the 
fairies  did  bring  to  him.  I  hung  it  on  a  branch  of 
willow.  Then  I  did  sit  down.  I  had  only  a  half  a 
Castoria  bottle  full  of  warm  water,  so  I  did  have 
needs  to  be  careful  in  the  use  of  it.  First  I  did  wash 
his  beautiful  white  paws.  I  dried  them  on  my 
apron  as  I  did  forget  to  bring  his  little  towel.  Dear 
Love  made  that  little  towel  for  him.  It  is  like  her 
big  bath-towel.  And  she  marked  his  initials  on  it 
with  red  ink  like  Big  Jud  has  a  bottle  of  at  school. 
She  put  a  dot  after  each  letter.  It  is  T.  C.  J.  Z.  on 
his  bath-towel.  When  I  do  have  thinks  about  that 
nice  little  bath-towel  of  his,  I  do  give  his  paws  a 
wash,  and  if  I  have  not  the  towel  with  me,  I  do  dry 
them  with  my  apron. 

So  I  did  to-day,  and  we  did  go  our  way  to  the 
little  house  of  Dear  Love,  by  the  mill  by  the  far 
woods.  In  our  going  we  went  among  the  great 
trees  along  little  paths  between  tall  ferns,  and  we 
went  over  logs.  When  we  were  come  near  unto  the 
house  of  Dear  Love,  she  did  come  to  meet  us.  She 
gave  me  two  kisses,  one  on  each  cheek,  and  one  on 
the  nose.  She  so  does  every  time  now  since  that 
day  when  she  did  give  me  one  on  each  cheek  and  I 
did  tell  her  Sadie  McKibben  does  give  me  one  on 
the  nose,  too.  She  was  so  glad  to  see  Thomas  Chat- 
terton  Jupiter  Zeus.  We  had  a  very  nice  visit.  We 
did  sit  on  an  old  log  under  a  big  tree,  and  there  was 
some  vines  growing  by  that  log,  and  we  did  have 
talks.  I  did  tell  her  how  I  was  praying  on  every 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  215 

day  for  her  baby  to  come  real  soon.  And  we  did 
see  a  chipmunk  that  has  some  nice  stripes  on  its 
back,  and  I  told  her  I  was  putting  it  into  my  prayer 
for  the  angels  to  bring  a  baby  brush  with  blue 
fleurs  on  it,  and  a  cradle-quilt  with  a  blue  bow  on  it, 
when  they  do  bring  her  baby,  because  I  did  have 
thinks  a  blue  fleur  on  its  baby  brush  and  a  blue 
bow  on  its  cradle-quilt  would  look  nicer  witn  its  red 
hair  than  pink  ones  would  look.  And  she  had 
thinks  like  my  thinks,  and  we  saw  a  caterpillar. 
Some  caterpillars  grow  into  butterflies.  All  cater 
pillars  do  not.  Some  grow  into  moths. 

When  I  was  coming  my  way  home  through  the 
far  woods,  from  the  house  of  Dear  Love,  I  saw 
more  chipmunks  and  I  saw  her  husband.  He  was 
fixing  a  log.  His  hat  —  it  was  not  on  him.  It  was 
on  a  stump  a  little  way  away.  He  was  most  busy. 
His  sleeves  were  up  in  a  roll  unto  his  arms'  middle. 
He  made  bends  over  as  he  did  work  at  that  log. 
A  little  fern  by  his  foot  had  its  growing  up  to  the 
fringes  on  the  legs  of  his  overalls.  The  sun  did 
come  in  between  the  grand  trees,  and  it  did  shine 
upon  his  head.  I  so  do  like  to  see  the  sun  shine 
upon  the  hair  of  the  husband  of  Dear  Love.  I  kept 
most  still  as  I  did  go  along,  and  I  did  look  looks 
back.  The  sunbeams  yet  did  shine  upon  his  head. 

When  I  did  come  more  near  unto  the  house  we 
do  live  in,  I  did  see  a  squirrel  in  a  chene  tree.  He 
was  a  lovely  gray  squirrel.  I  came  more  near  unto 
the  tree.  I  looked  more  looks  at  that  gray  squirrel 


216  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

sitting  out  on  a  limb.  His  tail  was  very  bushy.  It 
had  many,  many  hairs  on  it.  I  did  look  at  his  tail 
and  I  did  look  at  the  tail  of  my  beautiful  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  The  hairs  he  does  have 
on  his  tail  —  they  are  not  so  many  as  are  the  hairs 
on  the  tail  of  that  big  gray  squirrel.  When  I  did 
look  looks  from  his  tail  to  the  tail  of  my  dear 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus,  I  did  have  some 
wishes  that  there  was  as  many  hairs  on  his  tail  as 
are  on  the  tail  of  that  gray  squirrel. 

While  I  so  did  think,  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupi 
ter  Zeus  did  nestle  more  close  in  my  arms,  and  I 
was  glad  for  him  as  he  is.  He  is  so  lovely  and  his 
ways  are  ways  of  gentleness.  We  went  on  along 
the  dim  trail.  There  by  the  dim  trail  grow  the 
honeysuckles.  I  nod  to  them  as  I  go  that  way.  In 
the  daytime  I  hear  them  talk  with  sunbeams  and 
the  wind.  They  talk  in  shadows  with  the  little 
people  of  the  sun.  And  this  I  have  learned  — 
grown-ups  do  not  know  the  language  of  shadows. 
Angel  Mother  and  Angel  Father  did  know,  and 
they  taught  me.  I  wish  they  were  here  now  —  here 
to  listen  with  me.  I  do  so  want  them.  Sometimes 
they  do  seem  near.  I  have  thinks  sometimes  kind 
God  just  opens  the  gates  of  heaven  and  lets  them 
come  out  to  be  guardian  angels  for  a  little  while. 

I  wonder  if  honeysuckles  grow  about  the  gates 
of  heaven.  I've  heard  they  are  made  of  precious 
jewels.  I  have  thinks  there  will  be  flowers  growing 
all  about.  Probably  God  brought  the  seed  from 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  217 

heaven  when  he  did  plant  the  flowers  here  on 
earth.  Too,  I  do  think  when  angels  bring  babies 
from  heaven  to  folks  that  live  here  below,  they  do 
also  bring  seeds  of  flowers  and  do  scatter  them 
about.  I  have  thinks  that  they  do  this  so  the  babies 
may  hear  the  voices  of  the  loving  flowers  and  grow 
in  the  way  of  God. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

How  Opal  Feels  the  Heat  of  the  Sun,  and  Decorates  a  Goodly 
Number  of  the  White  Poker-Chips  of  the  Chore  Boy. 

TO-DAY  I  did  n't  get  to  finish  the  exploration 
trip  over  the  river,  because  just  as  I  was  starting 
around  the  house-corner,  after  I  did  do  my  morning 
work  early,  the  mamma  grabbed  me.  She  did  tie 
me  to  the  wood-shed  corner  with  a  piece  of  clothes 
line.  So  we  couldn  't  play  together,  she  did  tie  to 
another  corner  that  very  wise  crow  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium.  To  the  corner  beyond  the  next  corner, 
to  the  corner  that  was  the  most  longways  ofF,  she 
did  tie  him.  But  we  played  peek-a-boo  around  the 
middle  corner.  I'd  lean  just  as  far  over  as  I  could 
with  the  rope  a-pulling  back  my  arms.  Real  quick, 
I'd  stretch  my  neck  and  peek  and  nod  to  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium.  Then  he  of  Clusium  would 
flutter  and  say,  "How-do-you-do,"  in  squeaky  crow 
tones. 

The  day  was  growing  warm.  When  it  grew  awful 
hot  my  arms  did  have  feelings  too  sore  to  lean  over 
any  more.  I  sat  down  by  the  wood-shed  wall  and 
I  did  watch  the  passers-by.  First  went  along 
Clementine,  the  Plymouth  Rock  hen.  Then  along 
stepped  Napoleon,  the  Rhode  Island  red  rooster. 
By  and-by  I  did  hear  Solomon  Grundy  squealing 
in  the  pig-pen.  Then  a  butterfly  did  rest  on  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  219 

handle  of  the  pump  where  I  did  have  longings  to  be. 
The  wee  mother  hummingbird  never  left  her  nest 
on  the  lower  oak  limb.  I  could  see  her  bill.  I  did 
have  hopes  Brave  Horatius  would  come  marching 
by.  I  called  and  I  did  hear  his  whine  afar  off.  Then 
I  knew  he  was  tied  up  too. 

Another  Plymouth  Rock  hen  came  walking  by. 
Over  in  the  shade  by  the  old  root  was  a  canard.  He 
did  have  a  sleepy  look.  And  I  did  have  a  sleepy 
feel.  I  looked  a  short  look  at  the  sky.  A  merle  was 
flying  over.  I  looked  looks  a-far  off  when  I  did  look 
near.  The  old  black  cat  sat  on  the  doorstep.  He 
had  a  saucer  of  milk,  and  then  he  did  wash  his  face. 
I  would  have  been  partly  glad  if  he  did  come  over 
to  see  me.  But  I  have  n't  made  up  with  him  since 
he  did  catch  the  baby  robin.  I  forgot  the  cat  when 
a  snake  did  crawl  around  the  stump,  one  with 
stripes  on  it.  I  did  have  thinks  it  might  at  least 
have  come  nearer,  that  I  might  count  the  stripes 
on  its  back.  But  it  did  go  under  the  house.  A 
grasshopper  came  hopping  along.  I  stuck  out  my 
foot  and  he  did  hop  over  it.  Through  the  slats  of 
the  chicken-coop  I  could  see  the  mother  hen  with 
her  young  ducklings.  I  did  have  longings  to  cuddle 
them  in  my  apron  and  I  did  want  to  take  them 
down  to  the  brook.  I  was  having  very  sad  feels. 

The  sun  got  hotter  and  hotter.  And  pretty  soon 
I  did  have  queer  feels  in  the  head  and  the  middle. 
Then  my  nose  did  begin  to  bleed.  I  felt  all  choked 
up  and  sticky.  And  every  time  I  gave  my  head  a 


220  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

shake  to  get  a  good  breath,  my  curls  did  get  mixed 
up  with  the  nose-bleed.  Pretty  soon  the  mamma 
passing  by  did  see  my  apron  with  blood  upon  it  and 
she  untied  me.  After  she  did  souse  me  in  the  tub 
under  the  pump  I  felt  better.  My  arms  did  tingle 
where  the  rope  was  tied. 

After  that  I  went  to  bed,  and  near  suppertime 
the  mamma  did  call  me  to  wash  the  stockings  of 
the  baby  and  the  stockings  of  the  other  little  girl. 
I  had  needs  to  climb  upon  a  stump  to  hang  the 
stockings  out  to  dry.  Then  I  set  the  table.  While 
I  was  carrying  in  the  wood,  I  did  crawl  under  the 
house  to  find  the  snake  with  the  stripes  on  his  back; 
but  he  was  n't  there,  so  I  don't  know  how  many 
stripes  he  did  have  on  his  back.  When  the  wood 
was  all  stacked  up  in  the  wood-box  and  the  kin 
dling  under  the  stove,  the  mamma  did  say  I  might 
take  the  ducklings  to  the  brook.  That  did  make 
me  very  happy.  All  the  way  to  the  brook  I  did 
sing,  "Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanctus,  Dominus  Deus, 
Te  Deum  laudamus." 

There  was  rosee  on  the  verdure  everywhere  this 
morning,  and  the  sunbeams  made  all  the  drops  to 
shine.  And  there  was  glory  and  gladness  every 
where.  When  I  did  look  upon  it,  I  did  have  thinks 
to  go  explores  down  along  Nonette  and  into  the 
foret  de  Chantilly.  But  the  mamma  had  not  thinks 
like  my  thinks.  She  did  tell  me  of  the  many  works 
she  did  have  for  me  to  do,  and  I  did  go  to  do  them. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  221 

But  as  I  did  go  about  to  do  them,  I  did  have  thinks 
about  the  appears  with  rosee  on  them  of  the  things 
that  grow  where  Nonette  flows. 

After  the  morning  works  was  done,  the  mamma 
did  have  me  to  mind  the  baby  while  she  was  making 
it  a  dress.  While  I  did  mind  the  baby  and  while 
the  mamma  was  making  a  dress  for  the  baby,  I 
made  out  of  the  piece  what  was  left  a  christening 
robe.  I  made  it  for  a  young  rooster.  It  is  n't  the 
first  one  I  have  made  for  him.  But  all  the  others 
he  has  got  too  big  to  wear,  and  I  have  n't  been  able 
to  catch  him  yet. 

A  little  time  before  I  did  eat  my  bowl  of  bread 
and  milk  —  it  was  a  little  time  before  noontime  — 
the  mamma  did  take  the  little  girl  and  the  baby  and 
the  dress  she  was  making  for  the  baby,  and  they  all 
did  go  to  the  house  of  her  mother.  She  did  have  me 
to  help  her  to  take  them,  and  when  they  were  come 
to  the  door  of  the  house  of  her  mother,  I  did  come 
again  home. 

When  I  did  eat  my  bowl  of  bread  and  milk,  I  did 
have  thinks  I  would  make  portraits  of  the  folks  in 
the  pasture  and  pig-pen  this  afternoon.  I  did  have 
decides  to  begin  their  portraits,  and  afterwards  on 
other  days  I  will  do  more  works  on  them.  I  did 
make  ready  to  go.  I  put  more  wood  in  the  wood- 
box  so  it  would  be  full  when  the  mamma  came 
home.  Then  I  put  four  white  poker-chips  in  my 
apron  pocket  —  one  is  for  the  portrait  of  the  gentle 
Jersey  cow.  I  will  have  to  draw  her  head  in  a  small 


222  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

way,  so  the  horns  can  go  in  the  picture  too.  I  have 
thinks  that  the  people  who  made  poker-chips  ought 
to  have  made  them  with  more  bigness,  so  there 
would  be  more  room  to  put  horns  on  the  cows' 
pictures  that  one  does  draw  on  poker-chips.  One 
of  the  other  three  poker-chips  I  did  put  into  my 
apron  pocket  is  to  draw  Aphrodite's  portrait  on. 
And  one  of  them  is  to  draw  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning's  picture  on.  And  one  is  for  someone 
else  that  does  live  in  the  pasture.  Now  I  go. 

When  I  did  get  these  pictures  made,  I  did  take 
them  to  a  log  in  the  near  woods  that  has  got  a 
hollow  place  in  it.  There  is  room  in  this  log  for  me 
to  take  naps  in  on  rainy  days,  and  in  this  log  I  do 
keep  the  white  poker-chips  with  pictures  on  them. 
In  this  log  I  do  have  a  goodly  number  of  white 
poker-chips  in  rows,  with  portraits  on  them  of  the 
animal  folks  that  do  dwell  here  about.  All  my 
chums'  pictures  are  there.  There  are  five  of  Ma- 
thilde  Plantagenet  on  three  poker-chips.  And  there 
are  seven  of  William  Shakespeare  that  I  did  draw 
in  automne  and  hiver  time.  And,  too,  there  are  six 
of  dear  Peter  Paul  Rubens  that  was. 

And  now  four  more  portraits  did  go  in  the  rows 
to-day.  There  are  nine  more  white  poker-chips  in 
a  little  pile  under  the  root  of  a  stump  close  by  the 
old  log.  These  nine  white  poker-chips  are  waiting 
waits  to  have  portraits  made  on  them.  When  I  do 
get  portraits  made  on  most  all  the  white  poker- 
chips  I  do  have,  then  one  of  the  logging  men  at  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  223 

mill  by  the  far  woods  does  give  me  more  white 
poker-chips  to  draw  more  pictures  of  Aphrodite 
and  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning  and  all  of  us  on. 

The  chore  boy  does  have  objects  to  my  drawing 
pictures  on  his  poker-chips  that  he  does  hide  in  the 
barn.  It  was  one  day  when  I  was  walking  around 
exploring  in  the  barn  and  singing  songs  to  William 
Shakespeare  and  the  gentle  Jersey  cow  —  on  that 
day,  and  then  I  did  find  the  poker-chips  of  the  chore 
boy  where  he  did  hide  them  away.  I  had  not  knows 
whose  they  were,  but  the  white  ones  all  did  lay 
there  in  a  heap  having  askings  for  pictures  to  be 
drawn  on  them.  So  I  did  take  some  of  them  and  I 
did  make  portraits  of  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus,  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde,  and  Brave 
Horatius.  Then  I  did  put  them  back  in  their  places 
again.  The  day  that  was  after  that,  I  did  take  some 
more  and  I  did  make  portraits  on  them.  On  them 
I  did  make  portraits  of  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium 
and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  and  Nannerl 
Mozart  and  Felix  Mendelssohn.  Then  I  did  carry 
them  back  to  their  place  in  the  barn.  They  did  look 
satisfaction  looks  there  in  that  corner  with  por 
traits  on  them. 

Then  next  day,  when  I  was  going  down  our  lane 
by  the  barn,  the  chore  boy  did  come  by  the  gate. 
When  I  came  through,  he  did  give my  curls  a  pull. 
He  did  say  in  a  cross  way,  "What  for  did  you  mark 
up  my  nice  poker-chips  with  your  old  pictures?" 
Then  I  did  have  knows  they  were  his  poker-chips 


224  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

there  in  the  barn.  I  did  tell  him  the  white  ones  had 
wants  to  have  portraits  on  them  and  it  was  to  give 
them  what  they  had  wants  for.  I  told  him  he  better 
draw  pictures  on  what  white  ones  was  left  that  did 
not  have  pictures  on.  I  had  thinks  they  would  be 
lonesome. 

But  the  chore  boy  did  not  have  thinks  like  my 
thinks.  He  said  he  had  more  knows  what  poker- 
chips  want  than  I  have  thinks.  He  says  poker-chips 
want  to  be  on  a  table  in  a  game  with  men.  I  have 
thinks  he  has  not  knows  what  he  is  talking  about. 
I  have  knows  white  poker-chips  do  have  wants 
for  portraits  to  be  drawn  on  them  —  portraits  of 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and  Brave  Hora- 
tius  and  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  and  all  the  rest. 

After  I  did  put  the  four  new  portraits  in  the  old 
log,  I  did  follow  a  path  that  leads  to  a  path  that  leads 
to  a  path  that  goes  to  the  house  of  Elsie.  I  so  went 
because  I  did  have  a  little  longing  to  rock  again  the 
baby's  cradle.  Elsie  was  making  for  her  young 
husband  a  whipped-cream  cake.  He  has  such  a 
fondness  for  them.  And  she  does  make  them  for 
him  as  often  as  there  is  cream  enough.  She  was 
stirring  things  together  in  the  most  big  yellow  bowl. 
She  did  stir  them  in  a  quick  way. 

While  she  so  did,  the  baby  did  have  a  wake-up. 
She  said  I  might  rock  it  in  its  cradle.  I  went  in  a 
quick  way  to  do  so.  I  did  give  its  cradle  little 
touches  on  its  corner  with  my  fingers,  and  it  did 
rock  in  a  gentle  way.  As  the  cradle  so  did  rock 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  225 

back  and  forth  in  that  gentle  way,  I  did  sing  to  the 
dear  baby  in  it  a  little  song.  I  did  sing  to  it  le  chant 
de  fleurs  that  Angel  Father  did  teach  me  to  sing  of 
hyacinthe,  eclaire,  nenufar,  rose,  iris  et  dauphinelle 
et  oleandre  et  romarin,  Us,  eglantier,  anemone,  nar- 
cisse  et  souci.  I  did  sing  it  four  times  over,  and  the 
baby  did  go  to  sleeps  again.  I  do  so  love  to  watch 
it  in  its  cradle. 

Afterwards  I  went  to  look  for  thoughts.  Every 
day  now  I  do  look  for  thoughts  in  flowers.  Some 
times  they  are  hidden  away  in  the  flower-bell  — 
and  sometimes  I  find  them  on  a  wild  rose  —  and 
sometimes  they  are  among  the  ferns  —  and  some 
times  I  climb  away  up  in  the  trees  to  look  looks  for 
them.  So  many  thoughts  do  abide  near  unto  us. 
They  come  from  heaven  and  live  among  the  flowers 
and  the  ferns,  and  often  I  find  them  in  the  trees. 
I  do  so  love  to  go  on  searches  for  the  thoughts  that 
do  dwell  near  about. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

How  Opal  and  the  Little  Birds  from  the  Great  Tree  Have  a 
Happy  Time  at  the  House  of  Dear  Love 

WHEN  I  was  come  home  from  school  this  after 
noon,  first  I  did  go  to  the  wood-shed  to  carry  in 
wood.  I  saw  there  was  some  new  bran  in  the  bran- 
sack-box.  That  box  is  a  big  box.  I  make  climbs 
up  on  it  sometimes  to  have  thinks.  And  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  makes  a  climb  up  too. 
Then  I  get  down  and  make  a  pile  of  wood  high 
enough  so  Brave  Horatius  can  make  a  jump  climb 
up.  We  have  likes  for  that  big  bran-sack-box. 
Jenny  Strong  says  why  we  do  have  likes  for  that 
box  is  because  it  is  a  hard  box  to  get  up  on.  But 
we  do  get  up  on  it  often.  Sometimes  I  do  eat  my 
bowl  of  bread  and  milk  for  supper  there  on  the 
bran-sack-box. 

There  is  another  box  in  the  wood-shed.  In  that 
other  box  is  a  sack  of  wheat.  In  morning-time  a 
little  bit  of  it  goes  with  the  scraps  to  feed  the 
chickens.  In  evening  before  gray-light-time  more 
wheat  from  that  sack  goes  to  feed  the  chickens.  And 
the  chickens  do  have  likes  for  that  wheat  from 
that  sack  in  that  box.  I  strew  it  on  the  ground  for 
them  in  swings.  I  swing  my  arm  a  long  swing  and 
then  a  short  swing.  When  I  do  swing  it  a  long 
swing  the  wheat  goes  far.  When  I  swing  it  a  short 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  227 

swing  it  goes  not  so.  It  goes  only  a  little  ways. 
To-day  I  did  swing  my  arm  four  long  swings  and 
three  short  swings  and  two  more  long  swings.  The 
chickens  were  glad  to  have  it  so.  They  did  pick 
up  that  wheat  in  a  hurry  way. 

Then  I  went  into  the  kitchen  to  get  the  egg- 
turner  to  pat  the  dirt  down  good  around  that 
tomato  plant  that's  been  dabbling  its  toes  in  the 
brook  and  is  now  planted  again.  Just  when  I  got  it 
most  patted  down  right,  so  it  looked  real  proper  — 
just  then  the  mamma  stepped  behind  me.  She 
turned  me  over  her  knee.  She  would  n't  listen  to 
explanations.  She  just  applied  that  egg-turner  to 
the  back  part  of  me.  Now  I  feel  too  much  sore 
to  sit  down,  so  I  lean  over  a  stump  'to  print  this.  I 
have  thinks  I  will  go  goes  to  the  house  of  Dear  Love. 

I  so  did.  I  went  through  the  near  woods  and  into 
the  far  woods.  In  my  going  I  went  by  where  the 
man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles  most  all  of  the 
time  does  gather  ferns  for  the  pensee  girl  with  the 
far-away  look  in  her  eyes.  There  little  ferns  grow 
tall  and  big  ferns  grow  very  tall.  And  sunbeams 
and  shadows  are  among  them  before  gray-light- 
time.  It  is  the  same  place  where  the  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  did  dig  up 
little  ferns  to  make  fern  wishes  to  the  fairies  when 
I  put  letters  in  the  moss-box  by  the  old  log.  But 
now  we  dig  not  up  little  ferns  here.  We  find  them 
in  another  place.  We  have  feels  the  fairies  would 
like  it,  and  these  ferns  grow  there  for  the  pensee 


228  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

girl  with  the  far-away  look  in  her  eyes.  Often  it  is 
now  she  is  come  to  visit  her  aunt  of  the  gray  calico 
dress  with  a  black  bow  at  its  neck. 

After  I  did  say  a  little  prayer  at  the  growing- 
place  of  the  little  tall  ferns  and  the  very  tall  ferns, 
I  did  go  on.  I  went  on  along  a  winding  path  that 
goes  in  between  old  logs.  I  went  a  little  way.  I  did 
hear  a  little  squeal.  I  did  look  looks  about.  There 
was  Solomon  Grundy  coming  after  me  just  as 
quick  as  he  could  come.  His  little  legs  did  bring 
him  in  a  quick  way.  I  made  a  stop  to  wait  for  him. 
He  was  joys  all  over  when  he  did  come  up  by  me. 
He  did  jump  upon  me.  And  his  squeals  were  squeals 
of  gladness.  Then  we  did  go  on  together.  We  went 
on.  As  we  so  did,  I  did  sing  to  him  one  of  the  songs 
Angel  Father  did  teach  me  to  sing.  Every  day  I  do 
sing  him  one  of  them.  To-day  I  did  sing  him  un 
chant  des  fleurs,  de  fete,  d'oncle,  of  souci  et  eglan 
tine  et  pensee  et  tulipe  et  quintefeuille  et  ulmaire  et 
apalachine  et  tournesol  et  romarin  et  eclaire.  He  did 
grunt  grunts  in-between  times. 

When  we  were  come  to  the  house  of  Dear  Love, 
they  were  standing  by  the  steps.  The  husband  of 
Dear  Love  did  bring  home  to  her  a  little  nest  that 
was  in  a  tree  that  they  did  fall  in  the  far  woods 
to-day.  The  nest  it  was  a  long  nest.  Its  longness 
was  very  long.  I  have  thinks  when  the  wind  did  go 
through  the  woods  sometimes  this  cradle  did  swing. 
Its  largeness  was  so  long.  The  husband  of  Dear 
Love  did  think  these  little  birds  were  most  ready 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  229 

to  fly  from  the  nest  when  the  tree  did  fall  to-day. 
All  the  six  little  birds  but  one  did  get  death  as  the 
tree  did  fall.  They  were  such  little  things  when  we 
did  take  them  out.  The  one  live  one  was  hungry. 
And  we  did  feed  him.  We  did  feed  him  little  bits  at 
a  time  —  a  little  bit  of  egg  that  was  left  in  the 
dinner-pail  of  the  husband  of  Dear  Love,  did  give 
to  this  little  bird  some  satisfaction  feels.  Dear  Love 
did  cuddle  it  warm  in  her  hands,  and  her  husband 
did  make  the  piece  of  egg  into  little  divides  for  me 
to  give  to  it.  It  did  open  its  mouth  most  wide. 

When  I  so  did  see  it  do,  I  did  open  my  mouth 
too,  like  it  did.  The  husband  of  Dear  Love  did 
laugh.  I  did  have  asking  of  him  why  he  did  laugh, 
for  it  was  not  thoughtful  to  laugh  at  the  little 
hungry  bird  that  did  have  so  hungry  feels  and 
lonesome  ones.  He  did  say  in  his  gentle  way  that 
it  was  not  at  the  little  bird  he  did  laugh.  He  did 
say  he  just  did  laugh  sometimes  when  he  had  thinks 
about  things  at  work.  I  told  him  it  was  nice  he  had 
thoughtfuls  of  the  nest  that  they  saw  in  the  tree 
after  it  did  fall.  He  said  he  thought  of  me  and  that 
made  him  think  it  would  be  nice  to  bring  the  nest 
home,  and  he  broke  oif  another  piece  of  egg  for  the 
little  bird.  And  more  he  so  did.  And  every  time  I 
did  drop  a  piece  of  egg  into  the  mouth  of  the  little 
bird,  I  did  open  my  mouth  wide,  too,  from  seeing 
the  bird  do  it. 

When  it  was  full  of  satisfaction  feels,  Dear  Love 
did  fix  it  all  up  nice  in  a  warm  little  box.  She  is 


23o  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

going  to  give  it  careful  cares  so  it  will  grow  up. 
She  has  asked  me  to  pick  out  a  name  for  it.  I  am 
so  going  to  do.  And  to-morrow  I  am  going  to  have 
the  funerals  of  the  other  five  little  birds  that  did  get 
death  as  the  tree  did  fall.  Dear  Love  gave  me 
white  soft  pieces  to  wrap  them  in  and  the  husband 
of  Dear  Love  says  he  will  make  the  tombstones  for 
their  graves.  I  am  going  to  bury  them  at  Dreux  by 
Blaise.  There  will  they  rest.  On  to-morrow  it  so 
will  be. 

To-night  when  I  was  come  home,  I  took  the 
pillow  from  my  bed  to  sit  on  at  the  supper-table 
because  the  back  part  of  me  did  feel  so  sore  from 
that  spanking  the  mamma  gave  me  with  the  egg- 
turner  out  in  the  garden  to-day. 

After  supper-time  I  did  have  seeing  out  the  win 
dow  of  the  night.  It  was  calling,  "  Petite  Francoise, 
come,  petite  Fransoise."  I  went.  Brave  Horatius 
followed  after.  We  went  adown  the  path.  A  big 
silver  yellow  ball  was  coming  up  over  the  hill.  We 
made  a  stop.  I  did  climb  on  a  rock  to  watch  its 
coming.  Brave  Horatius  put  his  nose  by  my  hand. 
I  gave  him  pats.  He  looked  up  at  me.  I  told  him, 
"C'est  la  pleine  lune."  We  went  on.  We  went  on 
to  the  hill  where  its  coming  was. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

How  Lola  Wears  her  White  Silk  Dress  at  Last. 

LOLA  has  got  her  white  silk  dress  that  she  did 
have  so  much  wants  for,  and  it  has  a  little  ruffle 
around  the  neck  and  one  around  each  sleeve  like 
she  had  wants  for  it  to  have.  It  is  nice  she  is  a 
great  lady  now.  She  so  did  say  at  school  she  would 
be  a  great  lady  when  she  did  have  her  white  silk 
dress  on.  And,  too,  at  school  she  did  say  the  child 
ren  would  gather  around  her  and  sing,  and  they 
did.  And  she  did  say  at  school,  when  the  children 
would  gather  around  her  and  sing  when  she  does 
have  her  white  silk  dress  on  —  she  did  say  then 
she  would  stand  up  and  stretch  out  her  arms  and 
bestow  her  blessing  on  all  of  them  like  the  deacon 
does  to  the  people  in  the  church  in  the  mill  town  — 
but  she  did  n't.  She  did  n't  even  raise  up  her 
hands.  She  staid  asleep  in  that  long  box  the  whole 
time  the  children  was  marching  around  her  and 
singing  "  Nearer  My  God  to  Thee,"  and  more  songs. 
She  did  just  lay  there  in  that  long  box  with  her 
white  silk  dress  on  and  her  eyes  shut  and  her  hands 
folded  and  she  was  very  still  all  the  time. 

Her  sister  did  cry.  I  did  walk  up  to  her  and 
touch  her  hand  where  she  did  sit  in  the  rocking- 
chair.  I  did  have  asks  if  it  was  a  white  silk  dress 
she  was  having  wants  for,  too.  And  she  patted  my 


232  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

hand  and  I  told  her  maybe  she  would  get  a  white 
silk  dress  soon  too,  and  how  nice  it  was  Lola  did 
have  hers,  what  she  had  wants  for  —  and  the  ruf 
fles  in  its  neck  and  sleeves.  And  Lola's  sister  did  pat 
me  on  the  head  and  went  out  to  her  kitchen,  and  I 
did  go  out  of  doors  again. 

And  there  was  Brave  Horatius  by  the  steps,  and 
I  saw  a  yellow  butterfly  and  a  little  way  away  there 
was  a  mud-puddle.  By  the  mud-puddle  was  a 
guepe.  She  came.  She  went.  Every  time  she  did 
come  she  did  take  a  bit  of  mud.  I  did  watch.  When 
she  was  gone  away,  a  little  hole  was  where  she 
did  take  the  mud.  She  did  make  comes  again.  It 
was  for  mud  she  did  come  every  time.  Last  time  I 
did  follow  after.  It  was  a  difficulty  —  the  follow 
ing  after.  She  was  so  little  a  person  and  the  way 
she  did  go,  it  was  a  quick  way.  And  I  had  seeing 
she  was  making  a  cradle  of  mud  for  a  baby  guepe 
to  be. 

Then  I  went  a  little  way  back.  I  saw  a  white 
butterfly.  I  have  wonders  if  Lola  will  wear  her 
white  silk  dress  to  school  when  fall  time  is  come.  I 
saw  one  more  white  butterfly.  I  looked  more  looks 
about.  Among  the  grasses  on  a  little  bush  there 
was  a  katydid.  And  its  green  was  a  pretty  green 
ness.  Its  wings,  they  were  folded  close.  And  it  was 
washing  its  front  feet.  I  have  thinks  katydids  do 
keep  their  feet  most  clean.  They  do  wash  them 
again  and  more  times.  I  so  do  like  to  keep  watches 
of  the  way  the  katydid  does  clean  its  face  with  its 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  233 

front  foot.   I  have  thinks  to  be  a  katydid  would  be 
an  interest  life. 

Brave  Horatius  and  me  looked  looks  away.  We 
did  see  the  little  pond.  We  went  goes  to  it.  Little 
white  fleurs  were  along  the  way.  I  have  wonders  if 
Lola  will  wear  her  white  silk  dress  when  at  school 
they  do  play  London  Bridge  is  falling  down.  When 
we  was  come  to  the  little  pond  I  lay  myself  down 
close  to  its  edge.  I  did  look  looks  into  the  pond.  I 
saw  things  there.  There  were  sky-clouds  in  the 
water.  I  saw  a  crayfish  come  from  under  a  rock.  I 
saw  minnows  all  about.  First  they  were  still.  Then 
they  made  moves  about.  I  saw  a  little  cradle  of 
tiny  stones.  It  was  about  an  inch  long.  While  I  did 
look  looks  at  it,  it  walked  off.  Then  me  and  Brave 
Horatius  did  go  on  explores  to  the  near  woods. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

Of  the  Ways  that  Fairies  Write,  and  the  Proper  Way  to  Drink 
in  the  Song  of  the  Wood. 

WHEN  morning  works  was  done,  then  I  did  go 
calling  on  the  folks  that  wear  sun-bonnets.  I 
thought  I  better  keep  my  sun-bonnet  on  my  head, 
being  as  I  was  going  calling  on  sun-bonnet  folks. 
First  I  went  to  the  garden  to  visit  the  pea  family. 
I  shook  hands  all  down  the  row  and  back  up  the 
other  row.  Then  I  went  to  call  on  their  neighbors 
the  beans.  And  I  saw  a  rabbit  in  the  garden  near 
unto  the  cabbages.  I  went  a  little  nearer.  I  went 
to  see  who  it  was.  It  was  Madame  Lapine.  She  is  a 
gentle  woman  and  her  ways  are  quiet  ways,  and 
she  does  have  a  fondness  for  bits  of  apple.  When 
ever  I  do  have  an  apple  I  do  save  bits  for  her.  Too, 
she  likes  cabbage,  and  I  have  showed  her  the  way 
into  the  garden  to  get  it  when  I  am  not  there  to  get 
it  for  her. 

To-day,  after  I  did  have  talks  with  most  all  the 
folks  in  the  garden  and  after,  I  did  tell  them  about 
this  day  being  the  crowning  day  of  Louis  XIV  in 
1654  and  the  going-away  day  of  Robert  de  Bruce 
in  1329;  then  I  did  go  out  across  the  fields  to  have 
talks  with  Aphrodite  and  Solomon  Grundy  and 
Michael  Angelo  Sanzio  Raphael.  Then  it  was  I  saw 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  235 

the  chore  boy  near  unto  the  barn.  He  had  a  long 
stick.  He  was  knocking  down  the  homes  of  the 
swallows.  There  were  broken  cradles  on  the  ground, 
and  there  were  grown-up  swallows  about  with  dis 
tresses  in  their  flying.  That  did  make  me  to  have 
so  sad  feels.  I  did  tell  him  how  dear  are  swallows, 
but  he  would  have  no  listens. 

Afterwards  I  did  go  goes  to  the  house  of  Sadie 
McKibben.  As  I  did  go  along  I  did  have  seeing  of  a 
little  thing  in  the  road  ahead.  It  was  a  very  little 
thing  and  it  made  little  moves.  They  were  only 
flutterings.  It  went  not  away  from  where  it  was.  I 
did  go  in  a  hurry  on.  When  I  was  come  to  it,  I  did 
have  seeing  it  was  a  little  bird.  It  was  a  little  bird 
that  was  hurt  by  the  step  of  a  cow.  I  have  thinks 
it  was  making  a  try  to  make  a  go  across  the  road. 
I  cuddled  it  up  and  I  felt  feels  in  my  apron  pocket 
and  there  was  some  mentholatum.  And  I  give  it 
some  applys  and  we  went  to  the  hospital.  And 
I  put  it  there  on  moss  in  a  little  soap-box  room 
where  nothing  can  come  and  bring  it  more  hurts. 
And  it  did  have  likes  for  the  water  I  gave  it  to 
drink  in  a  thimble,  and  more  likes  it  did  have  for 
the  food  I  gave  it  to  eat.  I  named  it  William  Make 
peace  Thackeray. 

Then  I  did  go  goes  on  to  the  house  of  Sadie 
McKibben,  and  Brave  Horatius  and  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium  went  goes  with  me.  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium  did  ride  part  ways  on  the  back  of  Brave 
Horatius.  When  we  was  come  to  the  house  of 


236  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Sadie  McKibben,  she  was  having  troubles.  Just 
when  she  did  have  her  clothes  all  hung  out,  then 
the  clothes-line  did  break  and  they  all  had  falls  on 
the  ground.  While  she  did  gather  them  up,  she 
did  have  talks  to  herself.  She  did  say,  "  'Tis  a  folly 
to  fret;  grief 's  no  comfort."  When  her  bread  gets 
burns  in  the  oven  and  the  chickens  bother  on  the 
porch  and  the  clothes  boil  over  on  the  stove  and 
everything  seems  to  go  wrong,  Sadie  McKibben 
has  a  way  of  saying,  "  'T  is  a  folly  to  fret;  grief's  no 
comfort." 

While  she  was  giving  more  wash-outs  to  them 
clothes  that  did  have  a  fall  while  the  clothes-line 
did  break,  she  did  sing.  She  sings  on  days  when 
sunshine  is.  She  sings  on  days  when  rain  is.  Sadie 
McKibben  always  sings  before  the  summer  rain  as 
does  the  robin. 

To-day,  when  she  did  have  them  clothes  part 
hung  on  the  line  again,  then  it  was  the  man  that 
wears  gray  neckties  did  come  by  on  his  way  to  the 
mill  town.  He  had  asks  if  there  was  anythings  she 
was  having  needs  of  that  he  could  bring  back. 
And  she  did  say  bacon  and  some  soda  and  some 
more  things  what  she  had  needs  of  for  to  cook  with. 
While  she  told  him,  he  did  write  it  down.  I 
breathed  a  big  breathe  when  I  did  see  him  write 
it  down,  for  he  doe.s  write  in  the  way  that  the  fair 
ies  write.  I  said, "  Oh ! "  He  did  turn  himself  around. 
He  did  say,  "What  is  it,  little  one?"  And  I  did 
tell  him  all  in  one  breath.  I  did  tell  him,  "Oh,  it's 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  237 

that  you  write  in  the  way  the  fairies  write  that  do 
put  things  for  me  by  the  old  log  where  the  moss- 
box  is." 

Then  he  did  smile  and  he  looked  a  long  look  out 
the  door.  I  have  thinks  he  was  thinking  of  the  long- 
ago  time  when  the  fairies  did  teach  him  to  write 
their  way.  When  he  did  start  to  go,  I  heard  him 
say  to  Sadie  McKibben,  "I  guess  I  will  have  to 
change  my  writing."  I  most  slipped  off  the  chair 
I  was  setting  on  the  edge  of.  I  had  feels  I  better 
speak  to  him  about  it.  I  had  feels  of  the  sorry  feels 
the  fairies  would  feel  when  they  had  knowing  he 
was  not  going  to  write  in  the  way  they  did  teach 
him  to  write.  When  he  did  tell  me  good-bye  I  did 
say,  "Please  don't  change  your  writing  because 
you  write  the  way  the  fairies  do.  I  have  thinks  the 
way  they  write  is  lovely." 

And  he  did  smile  his  gentle  smile.  Then  I  did 
tell  him  how  sorry  I  knew  the  fairies  would  feel  if 
he  wrote  not  on  in  their  way.  Then  he  did  say  he 
guessed  it  would  be  a  pretty  hard  thing  —  trying 
to  write  another  way  from  what  the  fairies  did  teach 
him  to  write.  I  have  thinks  it  would  so  be.  And 
to-night  in  my  prayers  I  will  thank  God  the  fairies 
did  teach  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is 
kind  to  mice  to  write  in  their  way.  It  is  a  very 
beautiful  way.  Some  of  the  letters  are  like  ripples 
on  the  water.  I  have  longings  to  write  as  the  fairies 
write. 


238  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

First  thing  I  did  do  on  the  morning  of  to-day  was 
to  go  to  prayers  in  the  cathedral.  When  I  was  come 
again  to  the  house  we  live  in,  I  did  eat  my  breakfast. 
For  breakfast  I  do  eat  a  bowl  of  bread  and  milk. 
Then  I  did  give  the  back  porch  a  sweep-off.  That 
made  its  appears  better.  Then  I  did  go  to  feed  the 
chickens,  and  after  that  I  did  go  to  feed  the  folks  in 
the  nursery. 

The  caterpillars  do  eat  so  much.  They  do  get 
hungry  feels  inside  them  most  often.  When  I  did 
have  them  well  fed  on  this  morning,  I  did  make 
tries  to  get  some  of  them  into  their  christening 
robes  so  that  they  can  be  christened  before  they 
do  grow  more  old,  and  before  they  do  grow  too  big 
to  wear  their  little  christening  robes.  The  matter 
of  making  christening  robes  for  caterpillars,  it  is 
not  a  difficult  one.  The  difficulty  is  to  get  a  frisky 
caterpillar  to  keep  still  while  one  is  putting  on  his 
christening  robe  .  And  then  it  is  a  problem  to  keep 
it  on  after  one  does  get  it  on.  I  do  have  much 
troubles  with  caterpillars  crawling  out  of  their 
christening  robes  after  I  do  get  them  on. 

Before  I  did  get  five  caterpillars  into  their  chris 
tening  robes  I  did  hear  the  mamma  calling.  She 
did  have  needs  of  me.  I  ran  a  quick  run  to  the 
house.  When  I  did  walk  in  the  door,  I  did  hold  up 
my  dress.  Now  the  mamma  makes  me  raise  up  my 
dress  when  I  come  into  the  house  so  she  can  get  a 
good  look  at  my  underskirt  all  around.  She  does  it 
to  see  if  I  have  any  animals  about  me  in  the  pockets 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  239 

I  pin  on  my  underskirts.  The  mamma  objects  to 
my  bringing  animals  into  the  house.  In  the  days  of 
now  I  am  real  careful  not  to  be  bringing  in  my 
friends  in  these  pockets  when  the  mamma  is  at 
home.  This  morning  she  did  look  satisfaction  looks 
when  she  saw  not  an  animal  in  the  pockets  I  have 
pinned  onto  my  underskirt. 

When  I  was  walked  in  she  did  send  me  again  to 
get  wood.  She  did  want  the  wood-box  filled  with 
wood.  Sometimes  it  takes  an  awful  long  time  to 
fill  the  wood-box.  The  longest  time  is  when  I  am 
in  a  hurry  to  go  on  exploration  trips.  While  I  did 
pile  the  wood  in,  I  did  whisper  my  feels  about  it 
all  to  Felix  Mendelssohn,  that  was  hiding  up  my 
sleeve.  Then  the  mamma  said  if  I  was  born  her 
child,  I  would  n't  have  had  this  longing  to  go  on 
exploration  trips.  Then  she  did  send  me  to  pick 
elderberries.  She  did  tell  me  to  scoot  up  the  tree 
in  a  hurry.  I  did  so.  When  I  was  up  in  the  tree,  I 
did  not  hurry  so  to  get  the  berries.  I  took  looks 
about.  I  looked  to  the  divides  in  the  road  and 
away  to  the  blue  hills.  Then  I  sat  on  another  limb 
and  looked  looks  more  near.  I  did  watch  the  little 
pond.  In  the  pond  is  a  lily.  The  lily  is  a  yellow 
lily  and  it  floats  upon  the  water.  It  does  float  upon 
the  water  like  a  little  sky-star.  Maybe  it  was  a 
little  one  that  did  have  longings  to  cuddle  in  among 
the  raindrops  that  do  come  together  in  the  pond. 
I  wonder  how  it  came  to  be.  I  would  like  to  know. 

In  the  pasture  by  the  pond  I  did  see  a  mother 


24o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

sheep.  I  think  it  must  be  nice  to  be  a  sheep  —  to 
be  a  mother  sheep  and  have  a  little  lamb.  Children 
are  such  a  blessing.  When  I  did  have  my  pail  half 
full  of  berries,  I  did  stop  to  pick  out  names  for  the 
twins  I  am  going  to  have  when  I  grow  up.  I  did 
pick  out  sixteen  names  and  then,  being  as  I  could 
not  make  decides  between  them,  I  did  have  decides 
to  pick  out  names  for  them  some  other  day.  And 
I  did  begin  at  once  to  get  that  pail  all  full  of  elder 
berries. 

When  that  was  come  to  pass,  I  set  the  pail  on  a 
little  stump.  Brave  Horatius  stayed  to  guard  it, 
and  I  did  go  the  way  that  leads  to  the  hill-top.  I 
did  have  longings  to  dance.  Most  every  day  I  do 
dance.  I  dance  with  the  leaves  and  the  grass.  I 
feel  thrills  from  my  toes  to  my  curls.  I  feel  like  a 
bird  sometimes.  Then  I  spread  my  arms  for  wings. 
And  I  go  my  way  from  stump  to  stump  and  on 
adown  the  hill.  Sometimes  I  am  a  demoiselle  flit 
ting  near  unto  the  water.  Then  I  nod  unto  the 
willows  and  they  nod  unto  me.  They  wave  their 
arms  and  I  wave  mine.  They  wiggle  their  toes  in 
the  water  a  bit  and  I  do  so  too.  And  every  time  we 
wiggle  our  toes  we  do  drink  into  our  souls  the  song 
of  the  brook  —  the  glad  song  it  is  always  singing. 
And  the  joy-song  does  sing  on  in  our  hearts.  So  did 
it  to-day.  And  afterwards  when  I  did  go  to  get  my 
pail  of  elderberries,  they  were  gone.  They  were 
gone  only  a  little  way.  Brave  Horatius  did  have 
feelings  those  elderberries  ought  to  be  going  to  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  241 

house  we  live  in.  So  he  did  make  starts  with  them. 
When  I  did  catch  up  with  him  he  did  have  the 
pail-handle  in  his  mouth.  He  was  going  in  a  slow 
way.  And  only  a  few  elderberries  did  spill  out.  I 
have  thinks  they  did  roll  out  when  he  took  the 
bucket  off  the  stump. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

Of  the  Death  of  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium,  and  of  the  Com 
fort  that  Sadie  Me  KM  en  can  Give. 

THE  waters  of  the  brook  lap  and  lap.  They  come 
in  little  ripples  over  gray  stones.  They  are  rippling 
a  song.  It  is  a  gentle  song.  It  is  a  good-bye  song  to 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  The  time  now  is  when 
there  is  no  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  It  was  only 
on  yesterday.  It  was  near  eventime,  when  the 
mamma  was  gone  to  the  house  of  her  mother.  I 
was  making  a  go  across  the  corn  field  to  see  the 
tree-folks  in  the  lane.  Brave  Horatius  did  follow 
after  me.  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  was  going  on  a 
way  ahead.  His  movements  did  look  queer  with 
his  tail-feathers  not  growed  out  yet.  He  went  on. 
He  came  a  little  way  back  to  see  if  we  were  coming. 
Then  he  started  on  in  a  hurry  way.  I  was  watching 
him  with  joy  feels  in  my  heart.  I  was  having  thinks 
how  nice  it  would  be  when  he  does  get  his  new  tail- 
feathers  all  growed  out. 

Brave  Horatius  did  give  a  queer  bark,  and  he 
pulled  the  corner  of  my  apron.  I  looked  looks 
about.  There  the  chore  boy  was  in  a  corner  of  the 
corn  field  with  a  gun.  He  was  pointing  it  out  on 
the  field.  I  had  thinks  he  had  not  seeing  of  my  dear 
Lars  Porsena  out  there.  I  ran  a  quick  run  to  keep 
him  from  pulling  that  thing  on  the  gun  that  makes 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  243 

the  noise  and  pains.  I  hollered  hollers  at  him  about 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  crossing  the  cornfield. 
When  I  was  come  to  where  the  chore  boy  was,  I  did 
tell  him  he  must  not  shoot  that  old  gun  —  a  ball  in 
it  might  go  as  far  as  my  dear  Lars  Porsena  of 
Clusium. 

He  just  laughed  a  laugh,  and  he  said  —  he  did  — 
that  Lars  Porsena  was  nothing  but  a  crow.  And 
then  he  pointed  that  gun  right  at  my  own  dear 
Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium.  The  noise  was  a  big 
awful  cal  lamb  of  tea.  I  had  feels  I  was  killed  dead 
when  I  saw  him  fall.  I  ran  a  quick  run.  When  I 
was  come  to  him,  I  found  he  was  making  little  flut- 
terings.  When  I  did  go  to  pick  him  up,  he  was  wet 
with  much  blood.  I  felt  the  shivers  of  his  pains.  I 
wrapped  my  apron  around  him  so  he  would  not 
have  cold  feels.  There  was  much  wetness  upon 
my  apron  as  I  did  go  along.  It  was  wetness  of 
blood.  The  sky  was  more  gray,  and  before  I  was 
come  to  the  house  we  live  in,  the  raindrops  were 
coming  down  in  a  slow,  sad  way.  I  have  thinks  the 
sky  was  crying  tears  for  the  hurts  of  Lars  Porsena 
of  Clusium.  And  I  was  too. 

I  had  longs  for  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties 
and  is  kind  to  mice  to  be  come  back  again.  He  and 
other  mill  folks  and  Dear  Love  and  her  husband 
and  Sadie  McKibben  and  her  husband  are  all 
away  gone  until  to-morrow  even-time.  I  had  not 
knows  what  to  do  for  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium. 
This  was  not  like  that  time  he  lost  his  tail.  I  did 


244  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

cuddle  him  up  close  in  my  arms,  and  I  washed 
off  some  of  the  blood,  but  more  and  more  came. 
And  sleepy  feels  were  upon  him.  I  wrapped  my 
apron  more  close  around  him,  and  I  did  sing  songs 
to  him  about  Ave  Maria  and  "Sanctus,  sanctus, 
sanctus,  Dominus  Deus." 

After  the  mamma  was  gone  to  bed  and  sleeps,  I 
did  take  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  to  bed  with  me. 
He  was  so  sleepy.  I  cuddled  him  up  in  my  arms 
and  we  both  did  go  to  sleep,  for  tired  feels  was  upon 
us.  When  I  had  wake-ups  early  on  this  morning, 
my  own  dear  Lars  Porsena  was  very  cold  and  he 
was  very  dead  and  stiffness  was  upon  him.  I  did 
have  queer  feels  in  my  throat  and  pain  feels  all  up 
and  down  me.  I  so  did  want  him  alive  again,  to  go 
explores.  When  the  mamma  was  most  awake,  I 
climbed  out  the  bedroom  window  with  him  in  a 
quick  way.  I  went  on.  I  did  go  until  I  was  come 
to  the  lane.  And  I  did  go  on  down  our  lane  until  I 
was  come  to  the  tall  fir  tree,  Good  King  Edward  I. 
I  lay  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  near  unto  Good  King 
Edward  I,  and  I  said  a  little  prayer  and  I  covered 
him  over  with  moss. 

I  now  go  to  have  his  funeral  at  Dreux.  Brave 
Horatius  too  does  wait  waits,  and  quiet  is  upon 
him.  He  has  longs  for  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium  to 
come  perch  on  his  back.  And  the  winds  are  calling, 
and  between  the  callings  of  the  wind  the  willows 
do  call  down  by  the  creek.  They  beckon  and  call 
to  the  soul  of  Lars  Porsena  of  Clusium. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  245 

The  clouds  go  slow  across  the  sky.  The  water 
goes  slow  in  the  brook.  No  one  seems  to  be  in  a 
hurry.  Even  the  wind  walks  slow.  I  think  she 
wears  a  silk  robe  to-day.  I  can  hear  its  faint  rustle. 
I  think  the  wind  is  dreaming  too.  With  the  whis 
pering  leaves  she  sings  a  dream-song.  This  is  a 
dream-day.  I  stopped  in  the  dusty  road  and  looked 
a  long  while  at  the  sun.  It  was  round  and  a  bright 
shining.  Then  for  a  little  time  afterwards,  every 
where  I  looked  I  saw  a  tiny  bright  shining,  and 
there  was  a  queer  feeling  in  my  head. 

When  I  was  come  to  the  field,  Savonarola  did 
look  like  the  flies  were  giving  him  some  bothers.  I 
took  my  apron  and  shooed  some  of  them  off.  I 
could  only  reach  a  little  way  up.  I  have  thinks  it 
did  help  some.  The  chore  boy  did  not  come  for 
some  long  time.  While  Savonarola  waited  his 
coming,  I  did  give  him  some  more  fans  with  my 
apron.  I  had  longings  for  the  papa's  newspaper.  I 
had  thinks  I  could  make  that  go  more  far  up  than 
I  could  make  my  apron  go.  First  I  did  stand  on 
one  side  of  Savonarola  and  shake  my  apron  at  the 
flies.  Then  I  did  stand  on  the  other  side  of  him. 
Those  flies  were  most  lazy.  They  did  n't  want  to 
make  moves  at  all.  While  I  did  make  tries  to  make 
the  flies  make  moves  away,  I  did  sing  a  song  of 
fleurs  of  grandmere,  offraxinelle,  romarin,  anemone, 
narcisse,  cornope,  oleandre,  iris,  souci,  eglantier, 
marguerite,  aubepine,  renoncule,  immortelle,  eclaire, 
anemone,  myosotis,  eglantier,  lys,  iris,  eclaire,  dau- 


246  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

phinelle,  ornithogale,  romarin,  lys,  eglantier,  anemone, 
narcisse,  souci,  to  Savonarola.  Then  I  went  to  get 
him  a  drink  in  my  little  bucket  that  I  do  hide 
by  the  willows.  He  had  likes  for  that  drink  of  cold 
water  and  some  more.  When  that  chore  boy  was 
most  come  I  did  give  Savonarola  good-bye  pats  on 
his  velvet  nose. 

Afterwards  I  did  go  goes  down  by  Launette  and 
on  to  Nonette  where  the  willows  grow.  I  did  print 
a  message  on  a  leaf.  It  was  for  the  soul  of  Lars 
Porsena  of  Clusium.  I  left  it  on  a  willow  branch 
with  a  little  prayer  that  his  soul  would  have  finding 
of  it. 

Then  I  did  make  begins  to  get  ready  for  Aphro 
dite's  foot-bath.  She  has  needs  for  one  most  every 
day.  And  most  days  she  does  get  it.  I  do  fill  seven 
Castoria  bottles  full  of  water.  Then  I  put  their 
corks  in,  and  all  of  them  that  will  go  into  the  lard- 
pail  I  do  so  put  in.  Too,  I  have  a  little  brush  to 
brush  her  feet  with  while  I  do  give  them  splash- 
water  baths  out  of  the  Castoria  bottles.  Aphrodite 
has  likes  for  foot-baths,  and  some  days  she  does 
have  likes  for  the  shower-baths  I  do  give  to  her  out 
of  the  little  flower-sprinkler.  I  give  her  back 
brushes  and  then  some  more  showers  from  the 
flower-sprinkler.  That  flower-sprinkler  I  did  write 
to  the  fairies  for.  I  put  the  letter  in  the  moss-box 
by  the  old  log  where  I  do  put  other  letters  for  the 
fairies.  The  time  it  was  not  long  until  the  fairies 
did  leave  this  flower-sprinkler  for  it.  I  water  the 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  247 

wild  flowers  after  warm  days  and  I  water  the  plants 
that  do  grow  in  the  garden.  I  can  almost  hear  the 
tomato-plants  say,  "We  were  waiting  for  you," 
every  time  I  do  give  them  sprinkles.  And  the 
cabbage-plants  have  likes  for  them,  too.  To-day, 
after  I  did  give  shower-baths  to  Aphrodite  and 
Solomon  Grundy  and  his  sister  Anthonya  Mundy 
that  has  not  got  as  much  curl  in  her  tail  as  has 
Solomon  Grundy,  then  I  did  give  shower-baths  to 
some  more  folks. 

Afterwards  I  went  to  the  cathedral  to  have 
service  there,  for  this  is  the  going-away  day  of 
Good  King  Edward  I  in  1307.  Brave  Horatius 
went  with  me  and  so  did  Minerva.  She  wore  her 
cap  with  ruffles  on  it  like  the  morning-cap  of  Jenny 
Strong.  Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydi- 
des  walked  by  my  side.  And  too  Sir  Francis  Bacon 
went  with  us.  His  leg  has  well  feels  a  long  time 
now,  but  he  walks  not  as  other  chickens  walk.  He 
has  likes  to  go  to  cathedral  service,  and  so  has 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus. 

To-day  after  I  did  sing,  "Sanctus,  sanctus, 
sanctus,  Dominus  Deus,"  then  we  all  did  go  goes  to 
the  house  of  Sadie  McKibben.  When  we  was  come 
near  unto  it,  there  was  Sadie  McKibben  on  the  big 
gray  rock  under  the  old  fir  tree.  Her  hands  made 
quick  moves  with  needles  —  the  kind  that  knit.  She 
was  knitting  socks  for  the  man  that  is  her  husband 
and  does  live  at  her  house.  I  sat  down  on  the 
ground  beside  her.  She  had  on  her  blue  gingham 


248  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

apron  with  the  cross  stitches  on  it.  I  did  make 
counts  of  thirty  cross  stitches  on  that  apron  to-day. 
Some  day  I  will  count  them  all.  There  were  some 
grasses  growing  close  to  the  gray  rock,  and  their 
little  fingers  did  touch  the  cross  stitches  on  the  blue 
gingham  apron  of  Sadie  McKibben.  I  have  thinks 
they  too  would  like  to  cuddle  up  to  Sadie  McKibben. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

Of  the  Fall  of  the  Great  Tree,  and  the  Funeral  of  Aristotle. 

TO-DAY  was  a  long  work-day.  When  afternoon- 
time  was  come,  the  mamma  was  worried  because 
the  cream  was  n't  sour  enough  to  churn,  and  she 
wanted  to  get  it  churned  before  supper-time.  I 
wanted  to  help  her.  I  feel  so  sorry  for  her  when  the 
worry  lines  come  on  her  face.  They  make  her  look 
tired.  While  she  was  taking  a  nap  by  the  baby  on 
the  bed,  I  tried  to  think  how  I  could  help  her. 
By-and-by,  after  a  time  not  very  long,  I  thought  of 
a  way.  I  got  a  lemon  and  cut  it  in  two  with  the 
butcher-knife.  Then  I  took  the  lid  off  the  big  churn. 
I  squeezed  those  lemons  lots  of  times  into  the 
cream.  Then,  when  they  would  n't  leak  any  more 
juice  out,  I  put  the  rinds  in  for  a  finishing  touch, 
just  like  the  mamma  puts  them  into  the  lemonade 
after  she  has  squeezed  all  the  squeeze  out.  I  feel 
better  now.  I  know  when  the  mamma  awakes,  joy 
will  be  hers  when  she  sees  the  cream  is  sour  enough 
to  churn. 

But  the  feels  the  mamma  did  have  when  she  had 
wake-ups  —  they  was  not  joy  feels;  and  the  feels  I 
now  have  are  sore  feels  on  the  back  part  of  me. 

While  I  did  mind  the  baby,  there  was  an  odd 
sound  like  someone  crying  a  great  way  off.  The 
mamma  says,  "I  wonder  what  it  is."  I  know  it  is 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

the  death-song  of  that  gray  fir  tree  they  are  falling 
this  afternoon.  Sleeps  is  come  upon  the  baby.  The 
mamma  says  for  me  to  get  out  of  her  way.  I  go  now 
goes  to  the  woods. 

I  did.  I  went  on  to  where  its  growing  was.  It 
reaches  up  and  up  —  most  away  to  the  clouds. 
Days  have  been  when  I  did  sit  by  it  to  have  thinks. 
And  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  has  gone 
goes  there  with  me,  and  Brave  Horatius  has  waited 
waits  while  I  did  say  prayers  by  that  great  tree. 
And  I  have  told  it  all  the  things  I  am  going  to  do 
when  I  grow  up.  I  have  told  it  about  the  books  I 
am  going  to  write  about  wood-folks  and  them  of  the 
field,  and  about  the  twins  I  want  when  I  grow  up, 
and  the  eight  other  children.  And  always  I  have 
read  to  this  great  fir  tree  the  letters  I  have  wrote 
and  put  in  the  big  log  for  the  fairies  to  take  to 
grandmere  and  grandpere.  And  night-times  I  have 
heard  the  little  wind-song  among  its  arms  most 
near  to  the  sky,  and  I  have  almost  touched  the  big 
gray  shadow  with  velvet  fingers  that  stays  close  by 
it  at  night-time. 

And  to-day  there  I  did  watch  and  I  did  hear  its 
moans  as  the  saw  went  through  it.  And  I  sat  down 
on  the  ground.  There  was  a  queer  feel  in  my 
throat  and  I  could  n't  stand  up.  All  the  woods 
seemed  a  still  sound  except  the  pain-sound  of  the 
saw.  It  seemed  like  a  little  voice  was  calling  from 
the  cliffs.  And  then  it  was  many  voices.  They  were 
all  little  voices  calling  as  one  silver  voice  come 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  251 

together.  The  saw  —  it  did  n't  stop  —  it  went  on 
sawing.  Then  I  did  have  thinks  the  silver  voice  was 
calling  to  the  soul  of  the  big  fir  tree.  The  saw  did 
stop.  There  was  a  stillness.  There  was  a  queer  sad 
sound.  The  big  tree  did  quiver.  It  did  sway.  It 
crashed  to  the  earth. 

Yesterday  was  the  day  of  the  funeral  of  Aris 
totle.  He  died  of  eating  too  many  mosquitoes. 
Now  I  have  not  three  pet  bats.  I  only  have  two  pet 
bats  —  Plato  and  Pliny.  And  they  are  like  mice 
with  angel  wings.  I  have  likes  to  watch  Pliny 
scratch  his  head  with  his  hind-foot,  and  he  does  use 
a  part  of  his  wonderful  stretchy  wing  for  a  wash 
cloth.  I  have  lonesome  feels  about  Aristotle  being 
gone.  I  go  now  goes  to  the  garden  to  get  turnips 
for  supper. 

I  did.  And  I  give  to  them  washes  in  the  brook. 
When  I  did  take  them  in  to  put  them  on  the  cook- 
table,  the  mamma  and  the  grandma  was  talking 
about  the  garden.  The  mamma  did  wonder  where 
that  third  cabbage-head  was  gone.  I  did  n't.  I 
know.  It  is  up  the  brook  a  ways  dabbling  its  toes 
in  the  water.  I  dug  it  up  this  morning  and  put  it 
there.  To-night  I  shall  plant  it  again  in  the  garden. 
It  will  have  had  a  glad  day  dabbling  its  toes  in  the 
brook.  That  does  give  one  such  a  nice  feel. 

I  have  been  sitting  on  a  high  stump  looking  looks 
to  where  is  the  road.  Now  the  sun  shines  yellow 
and  many  flowers  bloom  yellow  along  the  road. 


252  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

When  I  grow  up,  I  'm  going  to  write  a  book  about 
the  folks  that  wear  the  sunshine  color.  I  have 
printed  some  prints  for  its  begins. 

When  I  was  coming  back  from  the  stump,  I  saw 
a  spider.  I  stopped  to  watch  him.  He  walked  on 
his  web.  There  was  a  mosquito  in  the  web.  I 
thought  I  would  take  that  mosquito  to  Pliny  to  eat. 
Before  I  could  get  to  it,  that  spider  ate  that  mos 
quito  up.  I  came  a  come  as  near  unto  the  chene 
trees.  I  saw  the  black  cat  coming  in  a  creep  along. 
He  was  coming  more  near  unto  the  little  squirrel 
that  had  no  seeing  of  his  coming.  I  ran  a  more 
quick  run.  I  hollered  a  little  holler.  The  little 
squirrel  did  make  a  start  to  make  a  run.  The  cat 
did  make  a  jump.  I  so  did  too.  The  cat  did  begin 
to  make  a  quick  run.  I  so  did  too.  I  fell  over  a  little 
root.  That  helped  some  because,  when  I  fell,  I  did 
catch  the  tail  of  that  old  black  cat.  I  pulled  it  most 
hard.  He  did  drop  the  little  squirrel  and  made 
objects  to  my  pulling  his  tail  so. 

Then  I  did  get  the  baby  squirrel.  It  was  most 
killed,  but  it  was  not  killed  dead.  I  did  cuddle  it  up 
in  my  hands  and  we  did  go  the  way  that  does  go  to 
the  hospital.  I  have  metholatumed  it  and  named 
it  Geoffroi  Chaucer,  and  I  have  told  it  about  this 
being  the  day  of  the  going-away  of  Innocent  III 
in  1216.  Now  I  go  goes  to  the  cathedral  to  say 
thanks  for  his  borning  and  all  the  good  he  did  do, 
and  to  pray  for  the  angels  to  bring  a  new  baby  to 
the  mamma  and  the  papa  when  comes  Easter-time. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

How  the  Man  of  the  Long  Step  that  Whistles  Most  of  the 
Time  Takes  an  Interesting  Walk. 

ONE  of  my  tooths  is  loose  and  a  queer  feel.  This 
morning,  after  I  did  come  back  from  prayers  in  the 
cathedral  with  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus, 
it  was  then  I  did  have  feels  of  that  tooth.  It  was 
funny  feels  —  its  being  loose.  After  I  did  eat  some 
of  my  mush,  I  did  go  to  the  string-box  and  I  pulled 
out  a  string.  It  was  a  white  one.  There  was  lots  of 
white  strings  in  that  box,  and  a  pink  one  and  a 
green  one.  I  put  the  white  string  back  and  I  pulled 
out  the  green  one.  It  was  long  —  very  long  —  feets 
long.  I  did  tie  one  part  of  it  around  my  tooth  with 
carefuls.  Then  I  did  come  a  walk  over  to  where 
the  broom  stands  behind  the  back  door.  I  did  tie 
the  other  end  of  the  long  green  string  to  the  broom- 
handle.  And  I  kept  hold  of  the  middle  of  the  string 
in  my  hand  so  when  the  broom  had  falls  it  would 
n't  give  a  bump  to  my  tooth  when  it  did  pull  it  out. 
I  went  a  walk  off.  The  tooth  did  n't  come  out. 
The  green  string  did  just  have  a  slip  off  the  broom- 
handle. 

I  carried  the  string  in  a  careful  way  while  I  did 
go  to  bring  in  the  wood  and  other  morning  works 
the  mamma  did  want  done  when  she  went  away 
to  the  grandma's  house.  When  the  works  was  done, 


254  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

then  I  tied  that  string  to  the  door-knob.  I  started 
to  walk  off.  Then  I  came  back  a  ways.  I  decided  to 
wait  a  little  while.  I  walked  off  again.  I  got  most 
far  enough  to  get  it  jerked  out.  Then  I  thought 
I  'd  wait  until  after  dinner.  I  took  the  string  off  my 
tooth,  but  I  left  it  on  the  door-knob  to  remind  me 
to  do  it  after  dinner.  Now  I  go. 

And  I  went  goes  to  the  woods  with  Lucian 
Horace  Ovid  Virgil  and  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde. 
And  there  I  met  a  glad  surprise.  To-day  the  fairies 
did  bring  more  color  pencils  to  the  moss-box  by  the 
old  log.  I  had  finding  of  them  in  the  afternoon  of 
to-day.  There  was  a  blue  one  and  a  green  one  and 
a  yellow  one  and  a  purple  one,  and  more  there  was 
too.  I  looked  looks  at  them,  and  I  climbed  up  into 
the  tree  that  is  close  by  the  old  log.  I  climbed  up 
to  be  more  near  the  sky.  There  was  songs  in  the 
tree-tops  and  I  did  make  a  stop  way  below  to  have 
listens.  And  I  did  look  looks  down  on  where  is  the 
moss-box  and  the  fleurs  I  have  planted  near  unto 
it  and  the  ferns  and  the  vines  that  do  have  growing 
over  the  old  log. 

And  while  I  did  have  watches  of  the  plant-folks 
that  dwell  about  the  moss-box,  and  while  I  did  have 
listens  of  the  songs  in  the  tree-tops,  then  it  was 
the  pensee  girl  with  the  far-away  look  in  her  eyes 
and  the  man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles  most  all 
of  the  time  did  come  walking  through  the  woods. 
It  is  often  now  they  so  come,  and  he  does  gather 
ferns  for  her  and  they  have  listens  to  what  the 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  255 

brook  sings.  To-day  they  did  n't  make  a  stop  by 
the  brook.  They  came  right  on  and  on.  They  so 
did  until  they  was  come  right  up  to  where  the 
plant-folks  dwell  by  the  moss-box. 

First  I  did  have  thinks  they  was  coming  comes 
to  leave  a  letter  for  the  fairies.  But  they  came  and 
they  stood  there  —  they  did  not  go  goes  away. 
Then  I  had  knows  they  did  n't  even  see  the  moss- 
box  where  I  do  leave  the  letters  for  the  fairies. 
They  did  almost  step  on  it.  I  had  sees  there  was 
joy-lights  in  her  eyes,  and  the  looks  he  looked  at 
her  was  like  the  looks  the  young  husband  of  Dear 
Love  does  look  at  her  when  he  is  come  home  from 
work  at  even-time.  And  I  did  reach  out  my  arms 
above  them  for  blessings  to  come. 

They  had  not  knows  of  my  reaching  out  my 
arms  above  them.  Only  God  had  knows.  They  did 
just  have  sees  for  one  another.  I  have  sure  feels 
they  did  n't  see  that  green  caterpillar  having  sleeps 
under  the  green  hazel  leaf.  He  most  stepped  on  the 
moss-box.  I  most  hollered.  My  loose  tooth  was 
queer  feels.  He  is  a  most  strong  man.  He  put  his 
arms  around  the  pensee  girl  and  he  most  lifted  her 
off  the  ground.  I  had  fears  he  would  drop  her  on 
the  moss-box.  I  most  did  have  losing  of  my  bal 
ance  on  the  tree-arm. 

And  I  had  sees  of  a  chipmunk  on  a  stump.  He 
was  very  saucy  and  had  nice  stripes  on  his  back. 
And  he  did  sit  up  and  talk  chipmunk  talk  to  an 
other  chipmunk.  I  had  hears  of  him  and  sees  of 


256  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

him.  But  the  man  of  the  long  step  and  the  pensee 
girl  did  n't  have  sees  of  the  chipmunk.  He  did  take 
out  a  ring  of  gold,  and  he  did  tell  her  that  was  his 
mother's  wedding-ring;  and  the  caterpillar  that 
was  asleep  did  have  wake-ups,  and  he  crawled  a 
little  more  under  the  hazel  leaf.  And  a  butterfly 
went  by  —  it  was  a  cream  one  with  a  nice  ribbon 
at  its  wing-edge  and  pinkish  spots.  I  had  thinks 
about  how  nice  it  would  be  to  be  a  butterfly  and 
come  out  of  a  little  egg  and  be  a  caterpillar  first 
and  have  a  lot  of  legs  instead  of  just  two  legs  like  I 
have  got  now.  And  I  looked  more  looks  at  the  fat 
green  caterpillar.  I  have  more  like  him  in  the 
nursery. 

He  did  kiss  her  again.  Last  year  I  had  more 
green  caterpillars  like  unto  this  one.  And  they  did 
grow  and  change  and  they  was  very  big  brown 
moths  with  velvet  wings  and  velvet  feet.  And  he 
did  say,  "I  want  to  help  you  to  have  all  the  love 
joy  in  the  world";  and  I  put  more  in  my  prayer  — 
a  baby  soon.  And  the  fat  green  caterpillar  fell  off 
the  leaf  away  down  on  the  ground,  but  he  fell  on 
some  moss  I  have  put  about  where  is  the  moss-box. 
And  after  his  arm  did  touch  the  hazel  bush  he  did 
step  over  two  steps.  I  breathed  a  big  breathe  of 
reliefs  about  the  moss-box  not  having  steps  on. 
And  he  kissed  her  again.  And  the  green  caterpillar 
made  begins  to  crawl  back  up  the  hazel  bush.  And 
I  felt  a  big  amount  of  satisfaction  feels  that  they 
was  so  happy.  And  I  did  whisper  another  prayer 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  257 

for  the  angels  to  bring  them  a  baby  real  soon,  with 
pink  fleurs  on  its  baby  brush  and  a  pink  bow  on  its 
cradle-quilt. 

And  in  the  bushes  there  was  a  little  bird  and 
restless  was  upon  him.  The  color  of  him  was  blue- 
gray,  and  there  were  streaks  underneath  and  there 
was  a  bit  of  yellow  on  his  throat  and  so  on  top  of  his 
head.  He  did  move  in  a  quick  way.  I  so  did,  so  I 
could  see  him  more.  As  I  did  go  along  a-following 
him  after,  I  did  have  sees  of  the  tracks  of  the  com 
ings  and  goings  of  little  wood-folks.  And  a  way 
away  was  a  soft-eyed  faon.  When  it's  with  its 
mother,  then  it  is  a  daine.  There  was  whispers  in 
the  ferns  and  more  songs  in  the  tree- tops.  And 
my  tooth  had  some  more  queer  feels,  and  I  had 
remembers  about  the  green  string  tied  to  the  door 
knob. 

I  went  a  walk  back.  It  was  still  there  when  I  was 
come  to  the  house  we  live  in.  Brave  Horatius  was 
by  the  steps.  He  did  have  watches  of  me  while  I 
did  tie  the  other  end  of  the  long  green  string  around 
my  tooth.  Then  I  went  a  quick  walk  to  the  other 
door  by  step-backs.  I  made  a  reach  out  for  the 
green  string.  But  it  was  n't.  It  was  on  the  floor, 
and  my  tooth  was.  After  I  did  throw  it  away,  then 
I  did  do  the  green  string  up  in  a  roll.  I  am  going 
to  keep  it. 

I  went  goes  to  the  garden  to  get  the  beets  the 
mamma  did  want  for  supper.  While  I  did  get 
them,  I  did  have  seeing  that  the  green  dresses  of  the 


2$8  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

turnip-folk  are  getting  faded  and  old.  I  thought 
they  might  like  to  have  new  white  dresses.  I  went 
again  to  the  kitchen.  I  lifted  the  flour-sifter  from 
the  flour-drawer  in  the  cook-table.  I  did  go  back 
to  the  garden.  There  I  sifted  flour  on  the  turnip 
folks.  It  came  down  in  sprinkles  like  snowflakes. 
That  gave  them  the  proper  look.  When  the  wind 
came  along,  they  nodded  appreciation  and  some  of 
the  flour  slid  off  to  the  ground.  And  Brave  Hora- 
tius  and  I  went  to  prayers  in  the  cathedral,  and  so 
went  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and  Menan- 
der  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides.  And  Ma- 
thilde  Plantagenet  did  wait  waits  at  the  pasture- 
bars. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

Of  Taking-Egg  Day,  and  the  Remarkable  Things  that  Befell 

thereon. 

TO-DAY  was  taking-egg  day.  Taking-egg  day 
comes  mostly  one  time  a  week.  It  is  the  day  the 
mamma  does  send  me  straight  to  take  eggs  to  the 
folks  here  about  and  yonder.  First  she  does  send 
me  to  take  them  yonder,  before  she  does  send  me  to 
take  them  hereabout.  This  she  does  because  she 
knows  if  she  sends  me  first  to  take  them  to  the 
folks  that  live  hereabout,  I  do  stay  so  long  with  the 
folks  that  live  in  the  nursery  and  hospital  that 
there  is  n't  time  enough  left  to  take  eggs  unto  the 
people  that  live  yonder. 

As  quick  as  I  did  eat  my  breakfast,  the  mamma 
did  set  out  the  lard-pail  on  the  wash-bench  with  a 
dozen  eggs  in  it.  As  quick  as  she  did  so,  I  put  on 
my  sun-bonnet.  It  is  blue  and  has  a  ruffle  on  it. 
Sometimes  I  wear  it  on  my  head,  but  most  times  it 
hangs  back  over  my  shoulders.  And  often  I  carry 
it  over  my  arm  with  things  in  it  —  earthworms  for 
baby  birds,  bandages  for  the  folks  that  get  hurt, 
and  mentholatum  in  quinine  boxes.  Then  too  on 
exploration  trips  my  chums  ride  in  it.  Sometimes 
it's  a  mouse  and  sometimes  it's  a  beetle.  Very 
often  it  is  toads  and  caterpillars  —  only  they  don't 
ride  in  the  sun-bonnet  at  the  same  time,  because  I 


26o  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

have  learned  toads  like  to  eat  caterpillars  for  break 
fast.  Sometimes  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus, 
that  most  dear  velvety  wood-rat,  snuggles  up  in 
my  sun-bonnet.  He  most  fills  it  up.  A  sun-bonnet 
is  a  very  useful  garment. 

After  I  did  tie  my  bonnet-strings  under  my  chin 
in  the  proper  way  the  mamma  thinks  they  ought  to 
be  tied,  I  walked  over  to  the  wash-bench  in  hip- 
pity-hops  to  get  that  bucket  of  eggs.  Before  I  took 
up  the  bucket,  I  did  look  long  looks  at  those  eggs. 
They  were  so  plump  and  so  white,  and  they  did 
have  so  nice  a  feel.  I  think  being  a  hen  must  be  a 
very  interesting  life.  How  thrilling  it  must  be  to 
cackle  after  one  lays  an  egg.  And  then  it  must  be 
a  big  amount  of  satisfaction  to  have  a  large  number 
of  children  hatch  out  at  the  same  time  and  fol 
low  one  about.  I  think  I  would  like  to  be  a  hen  in 
the  daytime,  but  I  would  n't  like  to  roost  in  the 
chicken-house  at  night. 

When  the  mamma  saw  me  looking  long  looks  at 
those  eggs,  she  gave  to  me  a  shoulder-shake  and 
told  me  to  get  a  hurry  on  me  and  take  those  eggs 
straight  to  Mrs.  Limberger  yonder.  That  Mrs. 
Limberger  is  the  quite  plump  wife  of  that  quite  big 
man  that  lives  in  a  quite  big  house  that  is  nice  but 
is  n't  as  nice  as  his  lane.  I  thought  I  'd  go  straight 
to  Mrs.  Limberger's  in  along  that  lane  from  out 
along  the  field;  but  first  I  did  go  by  to  get  Felix 
Mendelssohn. 

When  I  got  to  where  he  was,  it  was  very  near 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  261 

unto  the  altar  of  Good  King  Edward  I.  And  being 
as  this  was  the  day  of  his  crowning  in  1274,  I 
thought  I  would  just  go  a  little  farther,  to  see  if 
the  crown  I  planted  in  little  plants  there  on  the 
altar  were  growing  in  a  nice  way.  They  were. 
When  I  planted  them  there  from  the  woods  in 
spring  days,  I  did  hope  they  would  burst  into 
bloom  on  this  his  crowning  day  and  make  a  crown 
of  flowers  on  his  altar.  But  the  dear  little  things 
got  in  a  hurry,  and  did  bloom  more  than  a  month 
ago.  But  they  were  saying  to-day  beautiful  things 
with  their  leaves.  I  heard  them  as  I  did  kneel 
to  pray  to  thank  God  for  Good  King  Edward  I. 

After  I  did  pray  quite  a  long  time  and  Felix 
Mendelssohn  got  a  little  fidgety,  I  started  on  to 
take  the  eleven  eggs  that  were  left  straight  to  Mrs. 
Limberger.  The  other  egg  I  could  not  take  be 
cause  when  I  did  kneel  to  pray,  in  some  way  it  did 
roll  out  of  the  bucket,  and  before  I  was  through  my 
prayers  a  little  gray  rock  by  my  hand  just  rolled 
off  the  altar  and  met  the  egg.  There  are  a  lot  of 
little  gray  rocks  on  the  altar.  It  is  mostly  made  up 
of  little  rocks  and  some  big  ones.  While  I  was 
making  that  altar,  the  man  that  works  at  the  mill 
and  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  came 
along.  And  the  big  rocks  that  were  too  big  he  did 
lift  and  place  on  the  altar  there.  And  then  he  did 
help  me  to  plant  mosses  in  between  some  of  the 
rocks.  That  made  me  happy.  Men  are  such  a  bless 
ing  to  have  about. 


262  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

To-day  I  did  go  from  the  altar  to  the  field.  Along 
the  way  I  stopped  to  talk  to  the  trees  and  to  watch 
the  birds  and  to  get  berries  for  the  nursery.  I  put 
them  in  the  bucket  with  the  eggs.  I  most  lost  my 
bonnet  climbing  over  the  fence,  and  I  did  lose  three 
more  of  those  eggs  and  some  of  the  berries  for  the 
nursery.  I  picked  up  the  berries  and  put  them  back 
in  the  lard-pail,  but  the  eggs  I  could  not  pick  up. 
I  did  n't  put  my  sun-bonnet  back  on  my  head 
again,  but  I  did  give  the  strings  a  little  tie  in  front 
so  it  would  n't  come  off.  Very  soon  after  I  saw  a 
little  snake.  He  was  crawling  along.  When  I  see 
snakes,  I  like  to  stop  and  watch  them.  The  dresses 
they  wear  fit  them  tight.  They  can't  fluff  out  their 
clothes  like  birds  can,  but  snakes  are  quick  people. 
They  move  in  such  a  pretty  way.  Their  eyes  are 
bright  and  their  tongues  are  slim. 

When  that  snake  crawled  away  where  I  could  n't 
see  him  any  more,  I  walked  over  to  talk  to  a  flower. 
After  we  did  have  conversation  for  some  time,  I 
happened  to  think  the  mamma  did  say  to  hurry; 
so  I  said  good-bye,  and  when  I  did,  I  put  my  nose 
to  the  flower  to  smell  it.  It  had  a  pleasant  odor.  I 
went  on.  Pretty  soon  I  felt  something  on  my  nose. 
I  wiped  it  off.  It  was  pollen  from  that  flower.  I 
put  it  on  an  egg  in  the  lard-pail.  That  gave  that 
egg  a  flowery  look.  I  showed  it  to  an  ear  of  corn, 
and  then,  as  I  did  go  along,  I  stopped  to  take  the 
clods  away  from  the  roots  of  some  of  the  corn- 
plants  so  the  toes  of  their  roots  could  have  some 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  263 

fresh  air.  They  quivered  appreciations,  and  some 
did  bow  down  most  to  the  ground  to  thank  me 
after  I  was  done. 

I  proceeded.  The  day  was  most  warm.  When  I 
did  cross  the  creek  I  looked  down  it  and  up  it. 
There  were  fairy  demoiselles  near  unto  the  water. 
Their  wings  did  shimmer  in  the  sunlight.  All  along 
its  edges  the  willows  were  dabbling  their  toes. 
Some  had  waded  in  a  little  bit  —  about  enough  to 
get  their  ankles  wet.  I  looked  long  looks  at  them. 
I  knew  just  how  they  did  feel  inside  while  they  were 
dabbling  their  toes  in  the  water.  It  is  such  a  nice 
feel  to  have. 

I  started  on.  I  looked  back.  I  started  on.  I 
turned  and  came  back  a  little  ways  —  just  to  take 
a  good-bye  look.  The  willows  waved  their  hands 
to  me.  They  called  to  me,  "Petite  Francoise, 
petite  Fran^oise."  I  hurried  on  with  the  eggs.  I 
had  got  twice  as  far  as  I  did  get  before.  Then  I 
started  back  to  the  creek.  I  ran  all  the  way.  When 
I  arrived  I  took  off  my  shoes.  I  hung  my  stock 
ings  on  a  willow  branch.  Then  I  sat  on  the  edge 
of  the  bank  and  dabbled  my  toes.  One  drinks  in 
so  much  inspiration  while  one  is  dabbling  one's 
toes  in  a  willow  creek.  And  one  does  hear  the  talk- 
ings  of  plants  that  dwell  near  unto  the  water. 

While  I  was  dabbling  my  toes,  my  legs  did  have 
longings  to  go  in  wading,  but  I  went  not  in.  Some 
thing  might  have  happened  to  what  was  left  of 
that  dozen  eggs  the  mamma  was  sending  straight 


264  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

to  Mrs.  Limberger,  and  that  was  why  I  did  not  go. 
And  I  did  not  take  Felix  Mendelssohn  out  of  the 
pocket  he  was  riding  in,  that  he  might  dabble  his 
toes.  I  took  him  not  out,  for  he  has  no  longings  to 
dabble  his  toes  in  a  brook.  He  has  prefers  to  dabble 
his  toes  in  cheese.  Though  I  do  feel  most  certain 
one  does  n't  get  near  so  much  inspirations  when  one 
dabbles  one's  toes  in  cheese  as  one  gets  when  one 
dabbles  one's  toes  in  waters  that  sing.  After  I  did 
take  in  a  goodly  amount  of  inspirations,  I  drew  my 
toes  away  from  the  water  and  let  the  sun  dry  my 
feet  so  I  could  put  my  stockings  on.  While  I  was 
lacing  my  shoes  up,  I  looked  looks  around  to  see 
what  was  near  about.  A  little  way  distant  was  a 
haystack. 

When  I  did  have  my  shoes  most  laced  up  to  the 
top,  I  gave  the  strings  a  tuck  in  and  started  on.  I 
saw  a  bourdon.  He  was  plump  in  body  and  he  did 
give  a  plump  buzz.  I  did  halt  to  screwtineyes  him 
and  to  listen  to  more  of  those  plump  buzzings  of  his. 
They  were  cool  sounds.  What  ones  I  did  hear  were 
so.  He  was  a  bourdon  in  a  hurry,  and  he  went  on 
in  a  quick  way.  And  I  went  on  in  a  slow  way.  The 
sun  was  so  hot.  It  made  me  squint  my  eyes,  so  I 
put  my  bonnet  on.  That  made  things  better. 
Pretty  soon  I  met  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning. 
Then  we  went  walking  across  the  field.  I  took  off 
my  sun-bonnet  and  tied  it  on  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning  so  the  sun  would  n't  bother  her  eyes. 
And  she  did  go  her  way  and  I  did  go  mine.  We 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  265 

shall  meet  again  at  the  pasture-bars  when  comes 
even-time. 

When  I  did  say  good-bye  to  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning,  I  went  the  way  that  leads  to  this  hay 
stack.  And  here  I  have  stopped.  A  haystack  is 
such  an  interesting  place.  It's  a  nice  place  to  ex 
plore.  I  think  so.  Mice  think  so.  Sometimes  — 
quite  often  —  when  I  am  crawling  back  in  a  hay 
stack,  I  do  meet  a  mouse,  which  is  very  nice,  for 
mice  are  nice  folks  to  know.  And  now  to-day,  when 
I  did  crawl  back  away  under  the  straw  I  did  find 
something.  What  I  did  find  made  me  feel  grati 
tudes  from  my  curls  to  my  toes.  It  was  a  nest  full  of 
eggs  and  nobody  had  used  an  egg  from  it.  There 
are  —  there  were  just  fifteen  eggs  under  the  hay. 
They  are  not  near  so  white  as  are  those  eight  eggs 
the  marnma  is  sending  straight  to  Mrs.  Limberger, 
but  they  do  have  more  smooth  feels.  Oh,  such  satin 
feels!  They  are  so  slick  they  came  most  slipping 
right  out  of  my  hands,  but  they  did  n't. 

Four  and  two  I  have  took.  I  have  put  them  here 
in  the  pail.  I  do  know  Mrs.  Limberger  does  so  like 
to  have  things  with  satin  feels  about  her.  I  have 
heard  her  expressions  so  when  I  was  taking  eggs  to 
her  before.  Now  I  think  she  will  beam  delights  all 
over  her  plumpness  when  she  does  see  the  satin 
feel  eggs  in  this  pail.  I  have  placed  them  on  top  so 
she  will  see  them  first  of  all.  Too,  I  think  her  eyes 
will  kink  when  she  finds  she  has  got  a  dozen  eggs 
and  two.  I  wonder  what  she  will  be  doing  with 


266  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

those  two  extra  eggs.  Now  I  '11  just  get  a  hurry  on 
me  and  take  them  straight  to  her.  And  I  will  hide 
these  printings  of  to-day  in  a  little  box  here  in  the 
haystack  until  comes  eventime.  And  I  will  come 
back  again  for  them  when  I  come  to  meet  Eliza 
beth  Barrett  Browning  at  the  pasture-bars. 

I  *m  back  again.  I  did  go  straight  from  this  hay 
stack  with  the  two  and  dozen  eggs  to  the  door  of 
the  house  of  Mrs.  Limberger.  When  I  did  get  there 
she  was  talking  with  a  woman.  The  woman  was  the 
beautiful  Sadie  McKibben,  and  she  wore  upon  her 
a  new  dress  like  the  blossoms  of  avalon  growing  in 
the  marshes,  and  there  were  freckles  on  it  like  the 
freckles  on  her  face,  and  both  were  beautiful.  Also 
did  Mrs.  Limberger  wear  a  new  dress.  It  was  black 
and  had  a  yellow  stripe  in  it  like  unto  one  of  those 
yellow  stripes  the  garter-snake  wears  on  his  back. 

When  I  did  walk  soft  upon  the  porch  they  were 
so  busy  talking  they  heard  me  not.  I  reached  out 
the  eggs.  Yet  they  were  so  busy  talking  they  saw 
them  not.  Then  I  did  edge  over  to  Sadie  McKibben. 
I  gave  her  sleeve  a  little  pull.  She  looked  down  at 
me  and  smiled.  She  went  on  talking.  She  gave  each 
one  of  my  curls  a  smooth-out  while  she  talked  on. 
When  she  did  get  most  done  with  her  part  of  the 
conversation,  Mrs.  Limberger  did  happen  to  see  the 
eggs  I  was  holding  out  to  her.  She  reached  and  took 
them.  I  was  glad,  but  my  arm  was  the  most  glad 
part  of  me  because  it  did  have  a  tired  feeling  from 
holding  the  bucket  out  so  long. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  267 

She  did  n't  even  notice  those  satin  eggs  on  top. 
She  did  begin  to  talk  about  the  many  ribbons  and 
the  many  ruffles  the  new  woman  wears  that  lives 
up  the  corduroy  road.  She  talked  on  and  on,  and  I 
did  wait  on  for  the  lard-pail  the  eggs  were  in.  And 
I  did  get  fidgety,  for  she  was  n't  holding  the  bucket 
straight  by  the  middle  of  its  loop  as  a  bucket  ought 
to  be  held.  I  had  a  little  fear  she  would  drop  that 
bucket.  That  would  make  a  dent  in  it.  And  I  knew 
what  a  spanking  I  would  get  if  I  took  that  pail 
home  with  a  dent  in  it.  I  did  stick  my  finger  in  my 
mouth  to  keep  from  speaking  to  her  about  it. 

Just  when  I  had  feels  how  that  spanking  was 
going  to  feel,  she  did  take  a  firm  hold  on  the  handle. 
But  she  did  n't  take  it  in  the  middle.  That  did 
make  the  bucket  to  tip.  She  went  on  talking.  She 
took  a  big  breath  and  two  of  those  satin-feel  eggs 
did  roll  out.  They  bounced.  They  broke.  Mrs. 
Limberger  kinked  her  nose  quick.  She  put  her  new 
black  dress  to  it.  Sadie  McKibben  too  did  put  her 
new  dress  to  her  nose  in  a  quick  way.  And  my 
apron  so  did  I  put  to  my  nose.  Now  this  I  know 
for  there  I  learned,  an  egg  with  a  satin  feel  may  feel 
proper,  but  inside  it  is  not  so,  and  if  it  gets  a  fall, 
it  is  only  a  queer  odor  that  one  does  have  longings 
to  run  away  from. 

But  Mrs.  Limberger  made  me  stay  right  there 
and  carry  water  from  the  pump  and  scrub  all  the 
bad  odors  off  her  back  porch.  I  think  some  of  them 
odors  was  n't  from  the  two  eggs  with  satin  feels. 


268  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

When  I  confided  my  feelings  about  the  matter  to 
Felix  Mendelssohn,  Mrs.  Limberger  did  tell  me  to 
go  on  scrubbing.  She  said  whatever  smells  might 
have  been  there  you  could  n't  get  a  whiff  of,  on 
account  of  the  multiplications  of  smells  that  came 
from  the  two  eggs.  Sadie  McKibben  did  help  me 
to  scrub.  She  did  ask  Mrs.  Limberger  not  to  men 
tion  the  matter  to  the  mamma.  Also  she  said  she 
was  going  by  that  way  to-morrow  and  would  bring 
the  four  eggs  to  make  up  the  dozen. 

When  I  started  home  Sadie  McKibben  did  give 
to  me  a  good-bye  kiss  on  each  cheek.  She  knew 
how  I  do  long  for  kisses,  and  how  the  mamma  has 
n't  time  to  give  me  any.  When  I  walked  by  Mrs. 
Limberger  I  did  look  the  other  way.  As  I  passed 
she  gave  me  a  pat,  and  when  she  did,  Felix  Men 
delssohn  squeaked.  When  she  gave  me  the  pat,  it 
went  through  my  dress  onto  the  back  of  the  head  of 
Felix  Mendelssohn  in  a  pocket  in  my  underskirt. 
And  he  being  a  mouse  of  a  musical  tendency  does 
object  to  being  patted  on  the  back  of  the  head. 
He  prefers  to  have  pats  on  his  throat.  And  he 
won't  let  anybody  give  them  but  me. 

I  went  on  in  a  hurry  to  home.  The  mamma  came 
a  little  ways  from  the  door  to  meet  me.  Behind  her 
was  a  switch.  I  saw  both  ends  sticking  out.  I  did 
give  my  skirt  a  shake  so  Felix  Mendelssohn  would 
get  out  and  away.  It  would  be  awful  for  him  to 
get  hurt  by  a  whipping.  It  might  hurt  his  soul. 
After  the  mamma  did  tend  to  me  as  usual,  I  put 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  269 

some  mentholatum  on  the  places  where  the  whip 
did  hit  most  hard.  Then  I  did  go  to  take  eggs  to  the 
folks  that  live  hereabout.  I  went  in  a  hurry.  After 
that  there  were  baby  clothes  to  be  washed  and 
wood  to  be  brought  in.  Then  the  mamma  told  me1 
to  go  find  my  sun-bonnet  and  not  to  come  back  un 
til  I  did  find  it.  I  went  again  to  the  altar  of  Good 
King  Edward  I  to  pray.  Then  I  went  to  the  nurs 
ery  and  the  hospital  and  came  again  here  where  I 
print.  Now  I  do  see  Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning 
at  the  pasture-bars.  And  she  has  got  my  sun-bon 
net  on.  I  knew  we  would  meet  again  at  eventide  at 
the  pasture-bars,  for  often  we  do  and  often  on  hot 
days  she  wears  my  sun-bonnet  until  we  meet  again. 
It  does  so  help  to  keep  the  sun  from  hurting  her 
beautiful  eyes. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

Of  the  Strange  Adventure  in  the  Woods  on  the  Going-Away 
Day  of  Saint  Louis. 

VERY  early  on  the  morning  of  to-day  I  did  go 
unto  the  cathedral,  for  this  is  the  going-away  day 
of  Saint  Louis  in  1270.  I  went  there  to  sing  a  thank 
song  for  his  goodness  and  to  say  prayers.  I  did  sing 
the  song  of  Saint  Louis  that  Angel  Father  did  teach 
me  to  sing.  The  little  leaves  on  the  bushes  growing 
there  under  the  grand  trees  —  their  little  leaves  did 
whisper  little  whispers.  I  have  thinks  those  little 
whispers  were  thank  songs  for  the  goodness  of 
Saint  Louis.  Sometimes  I  did  hear  little  bird  voices 
in  between  the  singing  of  the  songs.  I  have  thinks 
they  were  singing  the  same  thank  song  I  did  sing  — 
only  they  were  singing  it  in  their  way.  And  when  I 
came  again  home,  the  brook  was  singing  the  same 
song. 

After  other  works  was  done  at  the  house  we  live 
in  on  this  morning,  the  mamma  did  have  me  to 
stand  on  a  box  on  a  chair  and  give  to  the  windows 
some  washes.  Then  she  did  have  me  to  give  the 
steps  some  scrubs.  While  I  so  did,  I  looked  looks 
about.  On  the  porch-end  was  a  little  spider.  He 
made  moves  in  a  little  quick  way.  A  guepe  came 
near  unto  him.  She  made  no  stops.  She  came  on  to 
him.  She  did  carry  that  spider  away. 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  271 

Pretty  soon  I  did  have  those  steps  all  clean  — 
nice  and  clean.  Then  the  mamma  did  have  me  to 
help  her  to  take  the  children  to  the  house  of  her 
mamma.  She  and  they  stayed  there  all  day.  I  so 
did  not  do.  When  they  were  come  to  the  door  of 
the  ranch-house,  I  did  go  goes  in  the  way  that  goes 
to  the  pasture-bars.  I  so  did  go  to  tell  the  folks  in 
the  pasture  what  day  it  was. 

It  was  most  warm  when  I  was  come  to  the  far 
end  of  the  pasture.  The  folks  of  the  pasture  were 
not  out  in  the  sun.  They  were  in  shade.  Elizabeth 
Barrett  Browning  was  under  a  big  chene  tree.  She 
did  look  gentle  looks  at  me.  And  I  did  put  my 
arm  around  her  neck  and  tell  her  all  about  whose 
day  it  was.  Then  I  went  on  to  tell  the  gentle  Jersey 
cow.  She  was  near  some  more  chene  trees.  I  went 
on.  She  followed  after.  She  did  come  with  me  as 
far  as  the  brook.  I  watched  her  take  a  long  drink. 
The  day  —  it  was  so  warm.  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning  did  come  for  a  drink.  I  had  thinks  of 
Aphrodite  in  the  pig-pen.  I  looked  looks  about  for 
the  little  bucket  I  do  carry  drinks  of  water  in  to 
my  friends.  I  found  it  where  I  did  hide  it  by  the 
willow  bush.  Then  I  did  go  to  take  a  drink  of  cold 
water  to  Aphrodite  in  the  pig-pen.  These  warm 
days  she  does  have  longings  for  a  drink  of  cold 
water.  She  did  grunt  grunts  of  appreciations.  Then 
she  did  grunt  another  grunt.  I  have  thinks  that 
other  grunt  was  to  tell  me  not  to  have  forgets  to 
take  a  drink  of  cold  water  to  Cassiopee.  I  so  did. 


272  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

Cassiopee  is  a  pig  that  does  belong  to  the  man  that 
our  lane  does  belong  to. 

After  I  did  tell  them  all  about  it  being  the  going- 
away  day  of  Saint  Louis,  I  did  go  my  way  to  the 
garden.  The  golden  rod  did  nod,  "It  is  good  that 
he  is  born."  The  tall  sunflowers  in  the  garden 
there  did  say,  "It  is  his  day,  it  is  his  day."  I  went 
adown  the  carrot-rows.  They  were  all  whispering 
soft  whispers.  I  have  thinks  they  were  saying  little 
thank  prayers  for  the  goodness  of  Saint  Louis.  The 
cabbage-plants  were  all  smiling  as  I  passed  them  by. 
I  think  they  are  right  glad  for  the  drink  of  water  I 
gave  each  one  of  them  last  night. 

From  the  garden  I  did  go  to  tell  other  folks.  I 
did  sing  the  little  song  of  Saint  Louis  as  I  did  go 
along.  The  sun,  it  was  hot  down  on  my  head.  I 
took  two  big  maple  leaves  and  they  did  some  help 
to  keep  its  warmness  from  my  head.  I  went  on. 
Once  at  the  edge  of  the  near  woods  I  met  with  my 
dear  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  We  went 
on  together.  I  did  carry  him  in  one  arm,  and  I  did 
hold  a  maple  leaf  over  him  with  the  other  hand.  A 
long  way  we  went,  in  about  and  out  about,  and 
many  little  folks  we  did  tell  about  this  day  being 
the  going-away  day  of  Saint  Louis. 

By-and-by,  after  it  was  a  very  long  time,  there 
was  no  sun.  The  warmness  did  have  a  different 
feel.  There  were  gray  clouds  in  the  sky.  Some  were 
darkness.  I  did  go  in  hurry  steps.  I  went  not  from 
the  road.  I  did  go  the  way  it  went  around  the  bend. 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  273 

More  dark  clouds  did  roll  across  the  sky.  More 
grayness  was  over  all.  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  in  my  bonnet  did  make  a  move.  I  did  almost 
drop  him.  I  made  a  stop  to  wrap  him  more  up  in 
the  sun-bonnet.  Then  I  did  hurry  on.  I  climbed 
the  lane  gate.  It  was  more  quick  to  so  do  than  to 
pull  the  plug  out  that  swings  the  gate  open.  I 
went  on.  There  was  a  great  noise.  Thomas  Chat 
terton  Jupiter  Zeus  poked  his  nose  out  of  the  sun- 
bonnet.  He  cuddled  up  against  me.  The  great 
noise  came  again.  I  whispered  to  him,  "II  tonne." 
We  went  on.  In-between  times  there  was  fire  in  the 
sky.  It  made  moves  in  a  quick  way.  After  it  was 
the  coming  of  the  great  noise.  Every  time  I  did 
whisper  to  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus,  "II 
tonne."  I  so  did,  so  he  would  not  have  thinks  the 
great  noise  was  something  else. 

When  we  were  come  near  the  ending  of  the  lane, 
there  was  some  very  big  pats  of  rain.  One  fell  on 
my  nose,  and  it  did  roll  off  onto  the  back  of 
Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  I  cuddled  him 
up  more  close  as  more  loud  noises  did  come.  When 
we  were  at  the  ending  of  the  lane,  there  was  Brave 
Horatius  waiting  for  us.  I  have  thinks  he  had  been 
on  looks  for  us.  His  looks  did  look  like  he  had. 

We  went  on  together.  We  was  just  a-going  to 
start  down  the  path  that  does  lead  to  our  house 
when  we  did  hear  a  calling.  It  was  a  mournful 
sound.  I  had  thinks  some  little  life  was  much  hurt 
and  did  have  needs  of  my  help.  I  felt  for  the  little 


274  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

box  of  mentholatum  in  my  pocket.  It  was  there, 
and  some  bandages  too.  The  sound  came  again. 
Somewhere  in  the  near  woods  a  voice  was  calling. 
I  followed  it  after.  Once  I  did  have  thinks  it  came 
from  a  root.  And  then  it  was  like  it  did  come  from 
a  big  tree.  It  was  a  pain- voice  like  someone  calling 
someone  to  come.  Then  it  was  like  a  lost  voice 
trying  to  find  its  way  among  the  ferns.  It  was  not 
a  word-voice.  It  was  just  a  voice  without  words. 

I  did  have  wonders  what  voice  it  was.  I  followed 
after  its  queer  callings.  Brave  Horatius  followed 
after  me.  He  would  stop  and  look  queer  puzzle- 
looks  at  nowhere.  We  did  go  on.  The  voice  sound 
came  again.  Then  it  was  like  a  voice  lost  from  the 
person  it  did  belong  to.  It  was  a  clear  low  cry,  like 
a  ripple  of  gray  ribbon.  We  were  more  near  to  it. 
We  followed  it  around  a  big  tree.  There  it  was 
come  from  the  man  on  the  stump,  between  that 
tree  and  the  big  tree  that  was  beyond  it.  The  man, 
he  did  throw  back  his  head  and  the  voice  came  out 
his  throat  and  went  to  nowhere.  It  came  again 
like  little  bits  of  queer  green  fire  flame,  and  then 
it  was  low  and  again  like  a  ripple  of  gray  ribbon. 
As  it  was  so  he  did  turn  his  face  about.  It  was  the 
face  of  the  husband  of  Sadie  McKibben;  but  the 
look  —  the  look  in  his  eyes  was  a  queer  wild  look 
that  looked  looks  at  nowhere. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

How  Opal  Makes  Prepares  to  Move.  How  she  Collects  All 
the  Necessary  Things,  Bids  Good-bye  to  Dear  Love,  and 
Learns  that  her  Prayer  has  been  Answered. 

WE  are  going  to  move  to  the  mill  town.  For  a 
whole  week,  every  morning  now  after  the  morning 
works  is  done  the  mamma  does  have  me  to  help  her 
make  prepares  to  move;  and  after  I  do  be  helps  to 
the  mamma,  then  I  do  work  at  making  prepares 
for  moving  my  belongings  when  we  go  goes  to  the 
mill  town. 

I  have  made  begins  a  week  ago.  I  have  been 
carrying  my  belongings  to  inside  an  old  log  a  little 
way  away  from  the  house  we  do  live  in.  Moving  is 
a  big  amount  of  problem.  But  mostly  now  I  do 
have  my  prepares  done.  I  am  going  to  take  with 
me  when  we  go  goes  to  the  mill  just  my  necessary 
things  —  the  mamma  does  say  none  but  my  neces 
sary  things  can  go.  She  said  that  was  my  blue 
calico  apron  and  my  gray  calico  apron  and  the 
clothes  that  goes  under  them  and  my  two  pair  of 
stockings  and  the  shoes  I  have  on  and  my  sun- 
bonnet  and  my  slate  and  Cyr's  Reader. 

But  I  have  some  more  necessary  things  that  the 
mamma  has  not  knows  of.  There  is  my  two  books 
that  Angel  Mother  and  Angel  Father  did  write  in 
and  I  do  study  in  every  day,  and  the  pictures  of 


276  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

mother  and  pere  and  the  pictures  of  grandmere 
and  grandpere  and  tante  and  tante  and  oncle,  and 
all  the  others  that  I  do  love  much  every  day;  and 
to-day  there  was  needs  to  give  the  dear  picture  of 
pere  a  wash  in  the  brook  because  last  time  on  yes 
terday,  when  I  did  kiss  him,  a  little  piece  of  jam 
from  my  bread  and  butter  got  on  his  dear  face  that 
does  look  so  like  him.  And  after  I  did  come  from 
the  brook  I  put  them  all  away  in  a  careful  way  in 
the  box  I  do  keep  them  in,  and  I  said  a  little 
prayer. 

And  I  went  to  bring  to  the  old  log  the  willow 
whistle  the  shepherd  did  make  for  me  when  it  was 
the  borning  time  of  the  lambs,  and  the  two  flutes 
he  did  make  of  reeds.  And  now  I  do  have  most  of 
my  necessaries  in  the  hollow  log.  There  by  it  is  the 
lily  plant  the  soul  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens  has  loves 
for  to  be  near.  And  I  have  planted  it  in  a  little 
flower-pot  Sadie  McKibben  has  given  to  me.  And 
when  we  are  moved  moves  to  the  mill  town  I  will 
put  the  lily  plant  under  the  window  of  the  room  I 
do  have  sleeps  in,  so  that  what  the  soul  of  Peter 
Paul  Rubens  does  love  to  be  near  will  be  near  unto 
where  I  am. 

And  in  the  hollow  log  there  is  the  old  logging 
boot  of  the  husband  of  Dear  Love,  that  he  has 
given  me  to  keep  some  of  my  rock  collections  in. 
And  there  is  the  bath-towel  of  Thomas  Chatterton 
Jupiter  Zeus  that  Dear  Love  has  made  for  him. 
And  there  is  the  color  pencils  that  the  fairies  did 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  277 

bring  to  the  moss-box.  And  there  is  many  brown 
papers  that  Sadie  McKibben  has  given  me  to  print 
prints  on.  And  there  is  the  cushion  Lola  did  make 
for  Lucian  Horace  Ovid  Virgil  to  sit  on  in  my  desk 
at  school.  And  there  is  all  the  patches  I  do  pin  on 
my  underskirt  for  my  animal  friends  to  ride  in. 
And  there  is  the  track  of  Elizabeth  Barrett  Brown 
ing  that  I  did  dig  up  in  the  lane.  It  has  so  much  of 
poetry  in  it.  And  there  is  one  of  the  gray  neckties 
of  the  man  that  wears  gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to 
mice,  that  he  did  give  to  me  for  Brave  Horatius  to 
wear.  And  there  is  the  bib  of  Elsie's  baby  that 
Elsie  did  give  me  for  Menander  Euripides  Theoc 
ritus  Thucydides  to  wear  when  he  was  nursing  the 
bottle. 

And  there  is  seven  of  the  tail-feathers  of  Lars 
Porsena  that  he  did  lose  when  he  did  lose  his  tail. 
And  there  is  four  old  horse-shoes  of  William  Shake 
speare  that  the  blacksmith  did  have  allows  for  me 
to  have  when  he  was  putting  new  shoes  onto  Wil 
liam  Shakespeare.  And  there  is  the  thimble  of 
Dear  Love  that  she  has  given  me  to  carry  drinks  of 
water  to  the  folks  in  the  hospital.  And  there  is  the 
little  bell  of  Peter  Paul  Rubens  that  he  did  use  to 
wear  to  service  in  the  cathedral.  And  there  is 
Elsie's  baby's  little  old  shoe  that  got  worn  out 
and  she  gave  it  to  me  for  Nannerl  Mozart  to  sleep 
in.  And  there  is  the  lid  of  Sadie  McKibben's  coffee 
pot  that  she  did  give  me  when  it  came  off.  She 
always  did  sing  over  that  lid  when  cooking-time 


278  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

was  come.  And  there  is  the  traveling-case  of 
Minerva  that  the  pensee  girl  with  the  far-away 
look  in  her  eyes  did  make  for  me  to  carry  all  the 
christening  robes  of  Minerva's  children  in,  and  more 
pieces  of  white  cloth  and  little  ribbons  the  pensee 
girl  did  put  into  Minerva's  traveling  case  for  chris 
tening-time  come  next  year.  And  there  is  the 
egg-shells  Ben  Jonson  and  Sir  Francis  Bacon  and 
Pius  VII  and  Nicholas  Boileau  and  Edmund  Spen 
ser  and  Oliver  Goldsmith  and  John  Fletcher  and 
Francis  Beaumont  and  Cardinal  Richelieu  and  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh  and  the  rest  of  Minerva's  children 
hatched  out  of.  I  have  thinks  there  is  needs  for  me 
to  carry  those  egg-shells  in  my  apron  when  we  go 
moves  to  the  mill  town,  so  they  will  not  have 
breaks.  And  there  is  the  little  gray  shawl  Sadie 
McKibben  so  made  for  Nannerl  Mozart. 

And  there  is  the  little  cap  that  Dear  Love  did 
make  for  my  Louis  II,  le  Grand  Conde.  It  has  got 
a  feather  in  it.  He  did  nibble  the  end  off  the  feather, 
and  he  had  mouse-wants  to  chew  the  tassel  that 
she  did  put  on  the  bag  she  did  make  for  me  to  carry 
him  in.  And  there  is  the  ribbon  bow  off  Elsie's 
garter  she  did  give  me  for  Felix  Mendelssohn  to 
wear.  I  have  heard  the  women  folks  at  the  farm 
house  say  this  world  would  be  a  nice  world  if  there 
were  n't  any  mice  in  it.  I  think  it  would  be  a  most 
lonesome  place.  And  there  is  the  big  handker 
chief  of  the  man  of  the  long  step  that  whistles  most 
all  of  the  time  that  he  did  give  to  me  for  Brave 


THE  STORY  OF  OPAL  279 

Horatius  to  wear  around  his  neck.  And  there  is 
Elsie's  old  lace  collar  that  Elizabeth  Barrett  Brown 
ing  does  wear  to  cathedral  service.  And  there  is 
one  of  the  whiskers  of  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter 
Zeus  that  he  did  lose. 

And  there  is  all  the  portraits  of  my  friends  on 
poker-chips.  And  there  is  the  other  white  poker- 
chips  that  are  waiting  waits  for  pictures  to  be 
drawed  on  them.  And  there  is  the  blue  and  the 
red  poker-chips  that  is  the  breakfast  and  supper 
plates  of  the  folks  in  the  nursery  and  the  hospital. 
And  there  is  Minerva's  white  cap  that  she  does 
wear  to  cathedral  service  with  the  ruffles  on  it  like 
are  on  the  morning  cap  of  Jenny  Strong.  And  there 
is  the  long  green  string  I  pulled  my  tooth  with. 
And  there  is  the  split  jacket  of  Padre  Martini,  that 
he  did  last  wear  before  he  was  become  a  grown-up 
cigale.  And  there  is  the  bottle  of  Menander  Eurip 
ides  Theocritus  Thucydides  —  the  bottle  that  used 
to  be  a  brandy  bottle.  And  there  is  the  skins  of  the 
caterpillars  they  did  grow  too  big  for  when  they 
were  growing  into  papillons  and  phalenes.  And 
there  is  the  two  tail-feathers  of  Agamemnon  Mene- 
laus  Dindon.  And  there  is  Solomon  Grundy's 
christening  robe.  And  there  is  the  little  fleur  water 
ing-pot  the  fairies  did  bring  that  I  do  give  my 
friends  shower-baths  with.  And  there  is  the  cocoon 
that  Charlotte  Bronte,  the  big  velvet  brown  pha- 
lene,  did  hatch  out  of;  and  there  is  more  cocoons 
that  other  phalenes  did  hatch  out  of.  And  there  is 


280  THE  STORY  OF  OPAL 

the  ribbon  bow  Elsie  has  given  me  off  her  other 
garter  for  the  pet  squirrel  Geoffroi  Chaucer  that 
the  cat  did  hurt  but  is  well  again.  And  there  is  a 
whole  new  box  of  metholatum  that  Sadie  McKibben 
has  given  me  for  the  little  folks  I  find  with  hurts  in 
the  mill  town.  And  there  is  the  four  vaseline  bottles 
that  got  empty  after  the  young  husband  of  Elsie 
did  use  all  the  vaseline  in  them  to  keep  his  pumpa- 
door  smooth.  I  have  uses  for  those  vaseline  bottles 
to  keep  food  in  for  the  folks  of  the  nursery. 

These  things  I  have  now  in  the  log.  Others  of 
my  necessary  things  I  will  bring  this  eventime  and 
on  to-morrow  and  the  next  day  and  the  day  after 
that. 

Some  of  us  go  to  the  mill  town,  but  not  all  of  us 
so  go.  Dear  Solomon  Grundy  is  sold  to  a  man  that 
does  live  at  one  of  the  edges  of  the  mill  town. 
Aphrodite  is  going  to  stay  stays  here,  and  so 
is  Mathilde  Plantagenet  and  Elizabeth  Barrett 
Browning  and  Anthonya  Mundy  and  the  gentle 
Jersey  cow  and  Savonarola  and  Agamemnon  Men- 
elaus  Dindon;  and  Plato  and  Pliny  are  going  to  live 
on  in  the  barn.  Brave  Horatius  is  going  goes  with 
Aidan  of  lona  come  from  Lindisfarne,  and  too 
Menander  Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  is  go 
ing  with  the  shepherd  to  the  blue  hills. 

Minerva  is  going  to  town  with  us,  and  so  is  Sir 
Francis  Bacon  and  Ben  Jonson  and  Pius  VII  and 
Nicholas  Boileau  and  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  all 
the  rest  of  her  dear  children,  and  Clementine  and 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  281 

Napoleon  and  Andromeda.  And  by-and-by  Thomas 
Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  is  coming  comes  to  the 
mill  town,  and  so  is  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Louis 
II,  le  Grand  Conde,  and  Nannerl  Mozart  and 
some  of  her  children,  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  and  Geoffroi  Chaucer  and  the  caterpillar 
folks  in  the  nursery.  All  are  when  I  do  have  homes 
fixed  for  them  about  the  house  we  are  going  to  live 
in  in  the  mill  town. 

Until  then  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  is 
going  to  stay  with  Dear  Love  and  her  husband, 
and,  too,  Dear  Love  does  say  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  can  live  under  her  doorsteps  until  I  do  have  a 
place  fixed  for  him  under  the  doorstep  of  the  house 
we  are  going  to  live  in  in  the  mill  town.  And  Sadie 
McKibben  is  going  to  take  care  of  Geoffroi  Chaucer 
and  bring  him  in  to  me  at  the  house  we  are  going  to 
live  in  at  the  mill  town.  And  the  man  that  wears 
gray  neckties  and  is  kind  to  mice  is  going  to  take 
care  of  all  my  mouse  friends  in  his  bunk-house,  and 
he  is  going  goes  to  feed  the  folks  in  the  nursery  and 
the  hospital. 

And  often  it  is  I  am  going  to  come  comes  back 
again  here  to  cathedral  service  and  talks  with  them 
I  know,  and  to  leave  letters  for  the  fairies  in  the 
moss-box.  I  have  thinks  about  the  mill  town. 
Maybe  in  the  fields  over  on  the  other  side  of  the 
mill  town  —  maybe  there  there  will  be  iiourneau 
and  ortolan  and  draine  and  durbec  and  loriot  and 
verdier  and  rossignol  and  pinson  and  pivoine.  When 


282  THE   STORY  OF  OPAL 

I  am  come  to  the  mill  town,  I  will  go  explores  to 
see,  and  I  will  build  altars  for  Saint  Louis.  Now  I 
go  to  see  Dear  Love. 

When  I  was  come  near  unto  her  little  house,  I 
had  seeing  of  Dear  Love.  She  was  sitting  on  the 
steps  by  her  door  drying  her  hair  in  the  sun.  It  did 
wave  little  ripples  of  light  when  the  wind  did  go  in  a 
gentle  way  by.  She  let  me  have  feels  of  its  touches. 
And  she  did  give  me  a  kiss  on  each  cheek  and  one 
on  the  nose  when  she  lifted  me  onto  her  lap.  And 
then  Dear  Love  did  tell  me  a  secret.  It's  hers  and 
her  husband's  secret  that  the  angels  did  let  them 
know  ahead  —  they  are  going  to  have  a  baby  soon. 

I  felt  a  big  amount  of  satisfaction.  It  is  about 
time  that  prayer  was  answered.  Some  prayers  you 
pray  a  little  while  and  answers  come.  Some  prayers 
you  pray  more  times  and  answers  don't  come.  I 
have  not  knows  of  why.  But  prayers  for  babies 
get  answered  soon  —  most  always  they  do.  The 
time  is  so  long  I  have  been  praying  prayers  for  Dear 
Love  to  have  a  baby  soon.  And  now  the  angels 
have  told  her  it's  going  to  come  in  about  five 
months.  I  have  thinks  that  is  quite  a  time  long  to 
wait  waits. 

And  Dear  Love  has  showed  me  the  clothes  the 
angels  did  tell  her  to  make  ahead  for  its  coming. 
And  there  is  two  little  shirts  and  bands,  and  very 
long  underskirts  with  feather  stitches  in  them,  and 
there's  a  little  cream  kimona  with  a  blue  ribbon 
bow  on  it.  I  looked  looks  at  it  a  long  time.  And 


THE   STORY  OF  OPAL  283 

Dear  Love  said  she  was  going  to  make  one  just  like 
it  for  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus.  I  am  glad. 
And  there  was  more  little  clothes,  and  while  we  was 
looking  at  them  the  husband  of  Dear  Love  did  come 
in  the  door  and  he  did  look  adores  at  Dear  Love. 
It's  just  our  secret  —  just  Dear  Love's  and  her 
husband's  and  mine.  Nobody  knows  it  but  just  us 
three,  and  Thomas  Chatterton  Jupiter  Zeus  and 
Brave  Horatius  and  Edward  I  and  lovely  Queen 
Eleanor  of  Castile  and  Michael  Angelo  Sanzio 
Raphael  and  Aphrodite  and  Lucian  Horace  Ovid 
Virgil  and  Felix  Mendelssohn  and  Plato  and  Pliny 
and  Minerva  and  her  chickens  and  Menander 
Euripides  Theocritus  Thucydides  and  Louis  II, 
le  Grand  Conde,  and  the  willows  that  grow  by 
Nonette. 

Now  Brave  Horatius  and  me  and  Thomas  Chat 
terton  Jupiter  Zeus  are  going  to  prayers  in  the 
cathedral.  The  great  pine  tree  is  saying  a  poem, 
and  there  is  a  song  in  the  tree- tops. 


POSTSCRIPT 

AFTER  this  I  lived  in  a  great  many  other  lumber 
camps,  and  there  were  new  people  and  new  animal 
friends  and  new  nurseries  and  other  cathedrals.  I 
studied  in  the  woods  and  wrote  down  what  I  saw 
and  heard.  In  the  spring  of  1918  I  went  from  Ore 
gon  to  Southern  California,  to  do  more  research 
work  in  natural  science,  earning  my  way  by  teaching 
nature  classes.  In  the  winter  of  1918  I  published 
my  first  nature-book,  paying  for  it  by  taking 
orders  for  it  in  advance. 

In  the  summer  of  1919  I  came  East,  hoping  to  be 
able  to  get  another  nature-book  published.  In  my 
going  to  see  publishers,  I  came  to  the  editor  of  the 
Atlantic.  While  I  was  telling  the  editor  about  this 
book,  he  asked  me  if  I  never  kept  a  diary,  and  this 
is  the  answer. 

After  the  seventh  year  and  far  on  into  other 
years  I  continued  the  diary;  but  perhaps  some  other 
time  the  story  of  all  these  things  will  be  pieced 
together  and  made  into  another  book. 


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Book  Slip-10m-8,'58(5916s4)458 


Whiteley,  O.S. 
Story  of  Opal 


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